Want to win everything badminton has to offer: Chirag Shetty

Chirag Shetty, a prominent figure in Indian doubles badminton, has set his sights on an illustrious retirement filled with medals from major tournaments. Alongside his partner, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, the duo has been making waves in the badminton scene, clinching victories at the Indonesia Open, Asia Championships, Swiss Open, and Korea Open.

In an interview with PTI, Chirag expressed his fervent desire to win all possible tournaments in the circuit. “A couple of years down the line when I retire, I want to have a room filled with all the big medals that badminton has to offer,” he said. His ambition extends to all prestigious events, including the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and world tour finals.

The dynamic duo, currently ranked second in the world, previously won a bronze medal at the World Championships and are gearing up for the upcoming edition in Copenhagen, Denmark, starting August 21. Chirag emphasized their strategy of focusing on playing their best badminton, confident that it would lead to victory against any pair in the world.

Over the past year, the Mumbai-born player noted a significant improvement in their consistency. He also highlighted their ability to switch positions on the court as a major advantage, often catching their opponents off guard.

Their success skyrocketed after the Badminton Association of India (BAI) appointed Mathias Boe, a 2012 London Olympics silver medallist, as their coach in preparation for the Tokyo Games in 2021. Chirag credits Boe’s guidance for their increased consistency and self-belief.

Despite their rise to the world number two spot, Chirag clarified that they are not chasing rankings but are more focused on winning big events. “I would be happy being a world champion than becoming a world number one any day,” he stated.

While the 2024 Paris Olympics is their ultimate goal, Chirag and Satwik are currently setting their sights on short-term targets, such as the World Championships and Asian Games. Despite their disappointment at the Tokyo Olympics, where they failed to qualify for the knockout stages, the pair remains undeterred and continues to strive for excellence in their sport.