Satwik-Chirag creates history, becomes number one doubles player in BWF World Rankings

India's top men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty jumped two places to achieve their career-best world No. 1 rank in the BWF World Rankings on Tuesday. Satwik-Chirag is the first pair from India to achieve this position. The Indian pair topped the rankings after winning the men's doubles gold at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. This was India's first gold medal in badminton in singles, doubles or team event in the Asian Games.

Also Read: India's glorious history in the Asian Games

In addition, Satwik-Chirag is the first Indian pair and fourth national athlete after the legendary Prakash Padukone, Saina Nehwal, and Kidambi Srikanth to achieve this feat. Satwik-Chirag defeated South Korea's Choi Solgyu and Kim Wonho in straight games 21-18, 21-16 to win India's first badminton gold at the Asian Games.

Moreover, this was India's best ever result in badminton at the Asian Games as the men's team won the silver medal and HS Prannoy won the bronze medal, India's first medal in men's singles since Syed Modi in 1982.

Since 2022, this Indian pair has won 5 BWF World Tour titles. It started with the Indian Open title win in January 2022, in which Satwik-Chirag defeated Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia 21-16, 26-24. At the end of 2022, Satwik-Chirag also won the French Open title.

Also Read: Asian Games 2023 Medals Tally: India's medals by sport

From 1962 to 2018, India won only one silver and nine bronze medals in badminton at the Asian Games. In Hangzhou, they added gold, silver and bronze medals each, making it the most successful Asian Games for India so far. Satwik and Chirag have now amassed 92,411 points from 18 tournaments this year, over 2,000 points ahead of second-placed Fajar Alfian and Mohammad Rian Ardianto.