Indian Badminton Duo Rankireddy and Shetty Make History in Asian Games Semis
In a historic feat, Indian badminton stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have become the first Indian pair to reach the men’s doubles final at the Asian Games. They secured their place in the final by defeating Olympic champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia in the semifinals held in Hangzhou, China. With scores of 21-17 and 21-12, the Indian duo showcased their dominance and skill.
The first set proved to be a challenge as the Malaysian duo put up a tough fight for 24 minutes. However, in the second set, Rankireddy and Shetty caught their opponents off guard, leaving them unable to match the Indians’ intensity. The Indian pair cruised to a comfortable 21-12 victory in just 23 minutes.
Rankireddy and Shetty, who are ranked third in the world, will now face Choi Soi Gyu and Kim Won Ho of Korea in the final on Saturday. With their exceptional performance so far, the Indian duo is poised to make history once again by clinching the gold medal.
Earlier in the day, another Indian shuttler, HS Prannoy, unfortunately failed to advance to the final in the men’s singles category. Prannoy suffered a defeat against China’s Li Shifeng, settling for a bronze medal. Despite initially taking the lead in the first game, Prannoy struggled to maintain his momentum as Shifeng showcased his agility and skill. Eventually, Shifeng emerged victorious with a score of 21-16 and 21-9.
While Prannoy’s journey in the tournament may have ended with a bronze, his performance throughout the Asian Games has been commendable. His fighting spirit and determination have surely left a lasting impact.
As the Indian badminton players continue to make their mark on the international stage, the nation looks forward to witnessing their historic bid for gold in the men’s doubles final. With their exceptional skills and determination, Rankireddy and Shetty are set to inspire a new generation of Indian badminton players and make the nation proud.
