Fresh off helping the Indian badminton team bag a hard-fought bronze medal at the Thomas Cup 2026, India’s premier men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are already looking ahead.
In an exclusive interview with Olympics.com, Satwik-Chirag reflected on their partnership, the upcoming challenge of defending the Asian Games doubles title later this year and their path towards the LA 2028 Olympics.
The Indian badminton players, also known as The Brothers of Destruction, also reflected on the mental demands of team events, the high-pressure moments that shaped their campaign and the belief that carried India to just its second Thomas Cup podium.
Q: How would you sum up India’s Thomas Cup 2026 campaign and the bronze medal run?
Chirag Shetty: It was a really memorable week for all of us. It’s only the second time in history that we’ve secured a medal. After winning in 2022, the expectation – from fans and from ourselves – was to go back and win again.
We wanted to go as deep as possible, but a bronze is no mean feat. We played some really close matches against top teams. Overall, we’re happy with how we performed and to come back with a medal.
Q: Your match in the quarter-final tie against Chinese Taipei was a thriller. What helps you overcome crucial moments in such games?
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy: It was a must-win situation for us against Wang Chi-lin and Chiu Hsiang-chieh. In the first match, Lakshya Sen was trailing against Chou Tien-chen, but he pulled off a brilliant win. That gave us confidence going into our match.
In team events, there’s always more pressure because you’re not just playing for yourself. At the same time, having teammates and seniors cheering for you is a huge boost.
We just try to play all out and enjoy these crucial moments. Those are the moments you remember for a long time.
Q: How different is the team-event experience compared to BWF World Tour tournaments?
Chirag Shetty: It’s a completely different feeling. In individual tournaments, you finish your match, recover and move on.
Here, you’re sitting together, supporting each other, celebrating together. Winning as a team just hits differently. Those are the weeks you want to relive again and again.
Q. Given your similar physical attributes and attacking style of play, how have you managed to develop such a seamless partnership?
Chirag Shetty: I’ve always believed that if you want to succeed in doubles, you need a strong bond off the court as well.
When things are going well, everyone plays well. But when things get tough, like when one is injured or struggling with form, that’s when you need to back each other – and that’s something we do. I think that’s a big reason why we perform the way we do.
Q: As the reigning Asian Games men’s doubles champions, what’s the mindset heading into the next edition?
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy: Defending a title at the Asian Games is not easy. At the time when we won it in 2023, we didn’t fully realise how big it was. Now, looking back, we understand the magnitude of that achievement.
This time, we’ll take it one step at a time. The team event comes first and we want to do well there. The key is to stay fit, stay mentally free and grab the opportunity when it comes – just like we did last time.
Q: What’s your take on India’s chances at the LA 2028 Olympics?
Chirag Shetty: We have a phenomenal team and definitely stand a chance. Unfortunately, we missed out on a medal last time, but we’ll go all guns blazing next time. It’s about handling emotions on the biggest stage. If we can do that well, we have the players to bring home a medal.
Q: How are you approaching the build-up to the LA 2028 Olympics?
Chirag Shetty: We’ve already played two Olympics, so we know how to go about it. The Olympics is obviously the biggest target for any athlete.
That said, it’s still some time away. We prefer setting short-term goals. The qualification cycle starts next year and that’s when we’ll begin focusing more specifically on it. For now, the BWF World Championships and Asian Games are our main targets.
Q: What are your thoughts on the shift to a 15-point scoring system?
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy: It will become much more mental. Players who can stay fully focused for those 30-40 minutes will have the advantage. The game will be faster and more unpredictable – anyone can beat anyone.
If you go 3-0 or 4-0 down, it becomes very tough to recover. In a 21-point format, you still have time and the mid-game break to regroup. That won’t be the case here.
It’s going to be exciting but also challenging. We would have preferred the 21-point system, but we’ll adapt. It’s not in our hands.
Q: Among all your achievements, which victories stand out the most?
Chirag Shetty: For me, it would be the Thomas Cup and the Asian Games.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy: Same for me. Those two weeks during the Thomas Cup and the Asian Games were very special. And this recent Thomas Cup campaign adds to that as well.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/satwiksairaj-rankireddy-chirag-shetty-interview-may-2026-exclusive
