Why Satwik-Chirag spread doubles joy for past masters

Chirag Shetty (left) and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy

For many years, doubles were treated as poor cousins of singles by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) irrespective of the fact that the majority of championships at the international level were team events. Press coverage of doubles were just scores of matches without analysis.

Prakash Padukone's nine national titles are remembered by badminton followers, but what about the 14 titles won by Jwala Gutta at the Nationals?

The selection of teams to play international tournaments was mainly for singles players, who got accolades and adulation.

Dinesh Khanna, the 1965 Asian champion, once told me about a team which went for an international tournament bereft of doubles players despite the fact that there had to be two doubles matches in the format. When he enquired with the person handling badminton in the sports ministry, he was told that for the doubles, he could make two pairs. After all, there were four players, so what was the problem?

Jwala with 14 titles is followed by Ami Ghia with 12 doubles and four mixed doubles crowns. Madhumita Bisht joins them with nine doubles titles and an incredulous 12 titles in mixed doubles. Ashwini Ponappa, Sikki Reddy come to mind too.

In men's doubles, the real champion and legend is Leroy D'sa. He leads with seven championship titles. Nandu Natekar is next with six, followed by Romen Ghosh, Jaseel Ismail and Prakash Padukone, all of whom have triumphed five times.

"The BAI hardly paid heed to doubles. But all this has changed overnight. The incredible recent victories in doubles has pushed singles headlines out of the way as the dynamic duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have snatched the place that was dominated by the singles stars. I have been waiting for this respect and adulation for our doubles players. After all, we too did yeoman service to the sport and for India," Ghosh remarked.

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According to D'Sa, Rankireddy-Shetty are in a groove. "The last two titles they won will give them a lot of confidence. Their victories will open doors in the sport. The officials worldwide now look at us with respect. There seems to be no apparent weakness visible in their games. They are attacking well, defending well and rotating really well. They play a very mature game. Their success augurs well for India as many kids will harbour dreams and emulate the champions. The big question now is, how long will the two boys stay on top. "I don't know how long they can remain on top, but let me assure you, that come what may, they will give our 100 per cent or maybe more. Right now, my focus is on the World Championships and Asian Games," said coach Mathias Boe.