Did Satwik-Chirag Secure a Bronze Medal at the BWF World Championships?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Satwik-Chirag finished with a bronze medal at the World Championships.
- They were defeated by Chen Boyang and Liu Yi in the semifinals.
- This match marked their first loss against the Chinese duo.
- They have consistently earned medals at the Championships since 2011.
- This was their second bronze medal at the BWF World Championships.
Paris, Aug 31 (NationPress) Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty aimed to make history as the first men's doubles team from India to reach the finals of the Badminton World Championships. However, their journey concluded in the semifinals after a defeat to the Chinese duo of Chen Boyang and Liu Yi, resulting in a bronze medal finish.
The ninth-seeded pair faced a tough match, ultimately losing with scores of 19-21, 21-18, and 12-21 after an intense hour and seven minutes of play.
With their semifinal exit, India's participation in the World Championships came to an end. Nonetheless, their performance secured a bronze medal, marking the continuation of India’s tradition of winning at least one medal at each BWF World Championships since 2011.
This match marked the first defeat of the Indian pair against the Chinese team after having previously triumphed over them in the finals of the Thailand Open last year. Notably, this was Satwik-Chirag's fifth semifinal exit within the year, following their performances at the Indian, Singapore, Malaysian, and China Opens.
Initially, the Indian duo started strong, securing a 4-0 lead and reaching the mid-game interval with an 11-5 advantage. However, the Chinese pair regrouped after the break, managing to take the first game.
In the second game, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty once again jumped ahead 5-1, although they went into the interval with a narrower lead at 11-9.
The deciding game saw Chen Boyang and Liu Yi take control early, racing to a 9-0 lead and ultimately clinching their place in the finals.
This achievement marks Satwik-Chirag's second bronze medal at the BWF World Championships, having previously earned one in the 2022 edition held in Tokyo.