New Delhi: When Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty climbed to the summit of world badminton, it was not just a personal milestone — it sent ripples through courts across India. As highlighted in a Long Read by The Indian Express, the men’s doubles pair’s success has triggered a sharp rise in participation, especially in a discipline once overshadowed by singles.
According to The Indian Express, state and national ranking tournaments are witnessing a minimum 10 per cent jump in entries, with some events drawing staggering numbers. A national ranking tournament in Goa reportedly saw around 2,200 entries, forcing organisers to extend qualification rounds just to accommodate the demand.
The surge is no longer limited to traditional badminton centres like Hyderabad or Bengaluru. States such as Punjab, Mizoram, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu are recording increased participation, underlining how deeply the sport is spreading.
What stands out most is the growing interest in doubles badminton. Coaches quoted by The Indian Express note that many players are now choosing to specialise in doubles as early as the Under-15 and Under-17 levels — a shift largely credited to Satwik and Chirag’s rise as World No. 1, along with their gold-medal wins at the Asian Games, Asian Championships and Commonwealth Games.
“The perception has changed,” administrators told The Indian Express, explaining that doubles is now viewed as a viable, respected career path rather than a fallback option.
Just as Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu once inspired a generation of singles players, Satwik and Chirag are now carrying that legacy forward — proving once again that when champions rise, a powerful wave of belief and participation follows.
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