Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have carved out a remarkable chapter in badminton chronicles by emerging as the first-ever Indian doubles duo to secure the No. 1 position in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Rankings. This triumphant ascent to the pinnacle was propelled by their splendid gold medal victory at the recent Asian Games held in Hangzhou.
Following the latest rankings released on Tuesday, October 10, the dynamic duo of Satwik and Chirag elevated themselves by two positions to clinch the top spot in men's doubles. They now reign supreme, surpassing formidable adversaries such as Indonesia's Fajar Alfan with Muhammad Ardianto and the esteemed Chinese team of Liang Wei Keng alongside Wang Chang.
With this achievement, Satwik and Chirag have etched their names as the fourth Indian badminton entity to achieve the No. 1 stature in the BWF standings. The trailblazing Prakash Padukone had previously achieved this distinction in men's singles in 1980, followed by the illustrious Saina Nehwal who scaled the peak in women's singles in 2015. Kidambi Srikanth was the most recent Indian shuttler to savour this honour, reigning supreme in 2018 in the men's singles category.
Further cementing their legacy, the pair secured a gold medal in the men's doubles category at the 2023 Asian Games, a remarkable feat that took place just last week.
The duo's journey to this eminent position is paved with notable triumphs. Notably, in 2022, they clinched gold at the Commonwealth Games, emerged victoriously at the Thomas Cup, and bagged a bronze medal at the World Championships. The year 2023 has been particularly bountiful, marking their dominance with wins at the Asia Championships, the Indonesia Super 1000, the Korea Super 500, and the Swiss Open Super 300.
Among their multitude of victories, the gold at the Asian Games is particularly significant. This achievement is monumental as it represents India's maiden badminton gold at the Asian Games, a distinction that had remained elusive since the sport's introduction in the Games' lineup.
In the grand finale of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, the formidable pair showcased their prowess by besting South Korea's Choi Sol Guy and Kim Won Ho in a stellar straight-game victory.
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