The Indian pair who won the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in the Badminton Men’s Doubles event won their second match in the group stage of the Olympics and sealed their place in the quarter-finals.
They won their second match of Group C by defeating Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto of Indonesia by a score of 21-13 and 21-13.
This win not only ensured their progress to the quarter-finals but also ensured them as the group winners.
The final match of the group stage was played at the La Chapelle Arena’s Court 3. The Indonesian pair put up a strong challenge against the Indian duo.
Satwik and Chirag not only had to beat the Indonesian pair but also deal with the Paris heat. The match was over in 40 minutes.
After leading the first half of the opening game 11-8, Satwik and Chirag raised the intensity of their flat pushes and relentlessly kept the pressure to pull away from the competition.
The final point of the first game came through a powerful smash from Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, who is well known for his muscular presence in the game.
The second game followed a similar story, with Satwik and Chirag leading 11-8 at the break. The duo once again took an early lead in the second half of the game, pulling away to a 14-8 lead.
The overall competition provided by the Indonesian pair was intense in the second half but the Indian duo won the game with their wonderful form.
Looking at the progress of Satwik and Chirag, a podium finish is the least of the expectations of every Indian. They will surely make the nation proud at the Olympics.