Trisha Ghosal in Hangzhou
You would have heard the phrase “poetry in motion” quite often, but how often would you have witnessed it? I did, today. The way Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty played against Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik was nothing less than poetry in motion.
The Malaysian pair had been quite the nemesis for Sat-Chi, as they had an 8-1 record against them before this match. But Sat-Chi are currently in the form of their lives, and oozing with confidence and calm. Their body language is positive, you can see them smiling more often even in tough situations, and it’s obvious that they are enjoying every bit of it.
Returning to the match, the first game was a neck-and-neck affair, until Satwik and Chirag reeled off five straight points to establish a 15-10 lead. It was in the crunch situations that they looked completely at ease, and that ensured that they seized the first game 21-17. At the break, you could see Mathias Boe, their coach, talking to them and telling them something. On being asked what Boe had told them, Chirag said, “He was reminding us of our gameplan and was asking us to stick to it, and not relax at any point.”
Game two came as a bit of a surprise for everyone. Satwik and Chirag were on a roll. They dominated the game from the first point and the Malaysian pair were left trying to play catch-up. Even at 19-8, some expected a comeback from the Malaysian pair or were wary of it. Satwik said the same thing. “Even when we were 20-12, we knew we could not relax because they could stage a comeback at any point,” he said. But the comeback never happened, because Satwik and Chirag kept attacking the Malaysians, forcing them on the defensive. They duly sealed the game and with it a spot in the final of the Asian Games Men’s Doubles.
The best part about Satwik and Chirag is the amount of work that they have put in to improve their defence, and to ensure that neither is stuck in one court. Satwik comes and plays from the frontcourt, while Chirag plays from the backcourt as well. On being asked if it was something intentional, Chirag said, “We have improved on our backcourt and front-court play. Now, any of us can play from any court and that helps.” Some of the defence they showcased at the net, and the retrieval of several smashes, was breathtaking, with the Malaysian pair frequently pushed into uncharacteristic errors.
If you are an Indian sports fan, you couldn’t have asked for anything more. A record-breaking 100 medals were assured for India at the Asian Games, and Indian badminton’s dynamic duo dominated their nemesis on the same day. Indian sport is well and truly moving onwards and upwards, just like Sat-Chi’s performance.