Satwik-Chirag advance to pre-QF at BWF World C'ships via walkover
Synopsis
Satwik and Chirag did not play a single point yet they are already in the pre-quarterfinals of the home World Championships. Scotland's withdrawal handed India's fifth seeds a walkover — and extra preparation time before a likely clash with Indonesia's 12th seeds. With two bronzes already on the board, a deeper run in New Delhi could rewrite Indian men's doubles history.
Key Takeaways
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty reached the pre-quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships 2025 via walkover on 19 August .
Scotland's Alexander Dunn and Adam Pringle withdrew from their opening-round fixture at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi .
The Indian pair, seeded fifth , are expected to face Indonesia's 12th-seeded Raymond Indra and Nicolas Joaquin next.
Satwik and Chirag won the Singapore Open in May 2025 and hold bronze medals from the 2022 and 2025 World Championships.
A further podium finish would make them the only Indian men's doubles pair to win multiple World Championships medals .
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, India's fifth-seeded men's doubles pair, moved into the pre-quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships 2025 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday, 19 August, after Scotland's Alexander Dunn and Adam Pringle withdrew from their opening-round match. The Indian duo advanced without striking a single shuttle, receiving a walkover in their debut fixture at the home World Championships.
How the Walkover Unfolded
Satwik and Chirag had already received a first-round bye and were scheduled to make their tournament debut against the Scottish pair in what would have been India's final contest of the day. The withdrawal by Dunn and Pringle rendered that match void, handing the Asian Games champions a direct passage into the next round. The unusual start means the Indian pair enter the pre-quarterfinals fresher than most opponents in the draw.
What Lies Ahead
The walkover buys Satwik and Chirag valuable preparation time before a significantly tougher assignment. They are expected to face Indonesia's 12th-seeded pair Raymond Indra and Nicolas Joaquin in the pre-quarterfinals — a contest that will offer the first real measure of where India's top doubles team stands at this tournament.
The Record They Are Chasing
The pair arrive in strong form, having clinched the Singapore Open title in May 2025. At the World Championships specifically, they carry an enviable podium record — bronze medals in both 2022 and 2025. A further podium finish in New Delhi would make them the only Indian men's doubles combination to have won multiple World Championships medals. Notably, only two Indian players — P V Sindhu and Saina Nehwal — have accumulated more medals at the event across all categories.
Home Crowd Factor
Playing on home soil adds another layer of significance to this campaign. The Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium is expected to provide a partisan atmosphere that could prove a decisive advantage as the rounds progress. This comes amid growing expectations from Indian badminton fans that Satwik and Chirag can go deeper than their previous bronze-medal finishes and challenge for gold on familiar courts.
Point of View
But context matters: Satwik and Chirag arrive at this home World Championships as genuine medal contenders, not just sentimental favourites. Their Singapore Open title in May signals they are in form, not coasting. The real question is whether the fifth seeding reflects where they actually stand in the global pecking order — and whether a home crowd, which can amplify both confidence and pressure, tips the balance when they face Indonesia's twelfth seeds. Two bronzes are a fine record; anything less than a semifinal at a home tournament will be read as underperformance by a fanbase that has been waiting years for a men's doubles gold.
NationPress
19 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Satwik and Chirag advance without playing at the BWF World Championships?
Scotland's Alexander Dunn and Adam Pringle withdrew from their opening-round match, handing Satwik and Chirag a walkover. The Indian pair had already received a first-round bye, so the withdrawal directly placed them in the pre-quarterfinals.
Who will Satwik and Chirag face in the pre-quarterfinals?
They are expected to face Indonesia's 12th-seeded pair Raymond Indra and Nicolas Joaquin in the pre-quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships 2025 in New Delhi.
What is Satwik and Chirag's World Championships medal record?
The Indian pair have won bronze medals at the BWF World Championships in both 2022 and 2025. A further podium finish in New Delhi would make them the only Indian men's doubles combination to have claimed multiple World Championships medals.
Where is the BWF World Championships 2025 being held?
The BWF World Championships 2025 is being held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India — making it a home tournament for the Indian contingent.
What recent form do Satwik and Chirag bring into the tournament?
Satwik and Chirag won the Singapore Open title in May 2025, arriving at the home World Championships in strong form. They are seeded fifth in the men's doubles draw.
