Archive · 13 Aug 2026
2009 Worlds Racquet Became Indian Superstar Satwiksairaj's First
A very long time ago, in 2009, a big badminton contest happened in Hyderabad, India.
A player from China named Cai Yun won a game and threw his racquet into the crowd.
A dad named Kasi Viswanatham caught it and hid it under his shirt.
That dad was the father of a boy named Satwik.
The family did not have much money, so they let young Satwik use the winning racquet to play.
Satwik won many small medals with that racquet and grew up to be one of India's best badminton players.
Other kids who watched that contest, like Prannoy and Sumeeth, also became famous players because they were inspired.
Some teams like England left the contest because they were scared of a terror attack.
Now the world's best players are coming to New Delhi for a new contest starting August 17.
At the 2009 World Championships in Hyderabad, men's doubles champion Cai Yun tossed his racquet into the stands and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy's late father Kasi Viswanatham caught it.
Because the family faced financial struggles, the racquet became Satwik's first racquet, and he won multiple state and district medals with it.
Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng defeated Korea's Jung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae in the men's doubles final, with the deciding game ending 28-26.
Young spectators HS Prannoy and B Sumeeth Reddy said watching the event inspired them, and Prannoy later won a bronze medal at the 2023 edition.
England, including Nathan Robertson, and Austria's Peter Zauner and Jurgen Koch pulled out over a Lashkar-e-Toiba terror threat, while China, Malaysia, and Denmark were satisfied with security.
- Who
- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, his late father Kasi Viswanatham, and fellow Indian shuttlers HS Prannoy and B Sumeeth Reddy, along with champions Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng.
- What
- A look back at how the 2009 Badminton World Championships in Hyderabad inspired India's next generation, including a racquet caught by Satwik's father that became Satwik's first racquet.
- When
- 2009, recalled 17 years later ahead of the next World Championships edition starting August 17 in New Delhi.
- Where
- Gachibowli Stadium, Hyderabad, India; the upcoming edition is in New Delhi.
- Why
- The family was not financially stable, so the racquet was used to play; the tournament also inspired future Indian stars, while England and Austria withdrew due to terror attack fears.
Security fears justified
Withdrawal unnecessary
Terror scare at the 2009 Worlds
Security fears justified
England and Austria pulled out because a Lashkar-e-Toiba threat shadowed the event, following the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the attack on Sri Lanka's cricket team in Pakistan.
Withdrawal unnecessary
China, Malaysia, and Denmark examined the security protocols and were satisfied with them, so the English and Austrian withdrawal was not supported by other teams.
- Event
- 2009 Badminton World Championships
- Venue
- Gachibowli Stadium, Hyderabad
- Men's Doubles Champions
- Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng (China)
- Deciding Game Score
- 28-26
- Satwik's First Racquet
- Racquet thrown by Cai Yun, caught by father Kasi Viswanatham
- Teams That Withdrew
- England; Austria (Peter Zauner and Jurgen Koch)
- Satwik's Current Ranking
- World number five (doubles, with Chirag Shetty)
- Next Edition
- New Delhi, starting August 17