Gold medal in Asian Games winners Satwiksairaj Rankiredy and Chirag Shetty rise to No.1 spot in BWF rankings

Digital Desk: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made badminton history by being the first Indian doubles pair to reach the top of the Badminton World Federation rankings. 

Satwik and Chirag ascended to the top of the men's doubles rankings following their amazing Gold medal-winning performance at the recently concluded Asian Games in Hangzhou.

In the most recent update, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty climbed two spots to No. 1 in the men's doubles rankings, which were issued on Tuesday, October 10. Satwik and Chirag have surpassed Indonesia's Fajar Alfan and Muhammad Ardianto, as well as China's Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang.

Satwik and Chirag are only the fourth Indian badminton player/pair to reach the top of the BWF rankings. Legendary Prakash Padukone topped the men's singles rankings in 1980, while Saina Nehwal topped the women's singles rankings in 2015. Kidambi Srikanth was the latest Indian player to be ranked No. 1 in men's singles, in 2018.

Satwik and Chirag now have 2282 more points than the second-ranked men's doubles pair.

Their victory at the Asian Games, on the other hand, stands out as a historic moment when they won gold in the men's doubles event at the Asian Games 2023.

Satwik and Chirag have previously won the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal, the 2022 Thomas Cup championship, and a bronze medal in the 2022 World Championships. They won the Asia Championships, the Indonesia Super 1000, the Korea Super 500, and the Swiss Open Super 300 in 2023.

It is India's first badminton gold medal at the Asian Games, an accomplishment that has eluded the country since the sport was added to the Games' programme.