1 hr ago
Satwik-Chirag Exit Asian Games After Schedule, Mental Lapses
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are a top Indian badminton team.
They were defending their Asian Games title in men’s doubles.
They won the first game against Thailand’s pair.
But the Thai players won the next two games and eliminated them.
Satwiksairaj said the Indians had been playing continuously and had little time to recover.
He also said their mental approach made a difference.
Chirag said they made strategic mistakes and did not stay calm enough.
The players said they would learn from the defeat and work on their mental preparation.
World No. 5 Indians Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lost in the Asian Games first round.
Thailand’s Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Peeratchai Sukphun won 12-21, 21-19, 21-14.
Satwiksairaj said continuous play, limited recovery and mental lapses affected the pair.
The Indians led after the opening game but struggled to handle Thailand’s sustained pressure.
Chirag said they were not at their best and should have played more calmly and intelligently.
- Who
- Indian badminton pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, and Thailand’s Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Peeratchai Sukphun.
- What
- The defending Asian Games men’s doubles champions suffered a first-round defeat.
- Where
- The Asian Games in Nagoya.
- When
- Friday, after the pair had played in the men’s team event.
- Why
- The Indians cited continuous competition, limited recovery, mental lapses, sustained opponent pressure and strategic mistakes.
Key facts
- Match result
- Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Peeratchai Sukphun defeated Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty 12-21, 21-19, 21-14.
- Match duration
- The contest lasted one hour and eight minutes.
- Indian ranking
- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were ranked fifth in the world.
- Tournament status
- The Indian pair were defending Asian Games champions.
- Schedule issue
- They had played continuously in the men’s team event and were at the venue until midnight before the match.
- Main improvement area
- Satwiksairaj identified mental preparation as the key area to improve.
Quotes
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
Indian badminton doubles player who discussed the pair’s mental difficulties and need for improvement.
“Kudos to them. They kept pressuring us. They kept poking us. I think we couldn't handle it in the crucial parts. I think in the (middle of the) second game, we could have had a different scenario. They played a little bit more free than us. I felt that's the only difference.”
rediff.com
“It's the mental part. Whenever we are mentally free, I think no one can beat us. But when we are stuck anywhere, we give opponents a chance to beat us.”
rediff.com
rediff.com
Sources
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