Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Satwik-Chirag relish home support at BWF World Championships
Two very good badminton players from India, Satwik and Chirag, are getting ready for a huge tournament called the World Championships.
In this contest, the best players from many countries come to play badminton.
This time, the tournament is happening in their own home city of New Delhi.
It has been 17 years since the World Championships were held in India.
Satwik and Chirag are very happy to play in front of their home crowd.
They say the cheering fans will help them play even better.
They are one of the best pairs in the world, so many people hope they will win a medal.
Satwik had a sore shoulder, but now he says he feels good and is fully fit.
The tournament starts on August 17 and lasts until August 23.
They cannot wait to go as deep as possible in the competition.
Indian men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will compete in their first BWF World Championships on home soil at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi from August 17 to 23.
The fifth-seeded duo received a first-round bye and will face the winner of Alexander Dunn and Adam Pringle versus Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn and Worrapol Thongsa-Nga.
The tournament marks the BWF World Championships' return to India after 17 years.
Chirag said home crowd support is an added advantage, that there is no pressure, and that playing in their home country is a privilege.
Satwik said he is fully fit after recovering from a shoulder issue that forced the pair to retire from the Japan Open in July and withdraw from the China Open.
- Who
- Indian men's doubles badminton pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty
- What
- Preparing to compete in their first BWF World Championships on home soil, aiming for a deep run as one of India's strongest medal hopes
- When
- August 17 to 23
- Where
- Indira Gandhi Arena, New Delhi, India
- Why
- To make the most of home crowd support at a tournament returning to India after 17 years
- Event
- BWF World Championships, returning to India after 17 years
- Dates
- August 17-23
- Venue
- Indira Gandhi Arena, New Delhi
- Seeding
- 5th-seeded men's doubles pair
- First round
- Bye received
- Next opponents
- Winner of Dunn/Pringle (Scotland) vs Charoenkitamorn/Thongsa-Nga (Thailand)
- Satwik's fitness
- Fully fit after shoulder rehabilitation
- Recent setbacks
- Retired from Japan Open in July; withdrew from China Open