"I consider Neeraj Chopra as lucky charm" - Chirag Shetty speaks ahead of Paris Olympics 2024
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have been perhaps the best badminton duo in recent times, not only in India but across the world. From debuting at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 to winning gold in the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, the former World no.1 pairing are one of India's medal hopefuls at the Paris Olympics 2024.
Recently, the duo engaged in a conversation with former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik on JioCinema's 'Get Set Gold' programme and shared some delightful information for the fans.
Rankireddy said:
"We take it as a responsibility to make the Indian flag fly high at the Olympics. We will work hard to achieve that."
Shetty added:
"Pressure is there, but we view it positively."
This will be the duo's second Olympics campaign. Back during the Tokyo Games, the duo suffered a heartbreak when they lost out to Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo and got eliminated from the group stage.
However, Shetty considers Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Neeraj Chopra to be a lucky charm. Chopra secured the yellow metal for India in the javelin discipline and is currently regarded as India's 'Golden Boy'. He said:
"Neeraj was always there, congratulating everyone. I consider him a lucky charm, so I made sure to shake hands with him before every match, saying, 'Bhaiya, match hai.'"
This time out, Reddy and Shetty will share the Olympics village with Chopra, who will eye his successive Olympics gold.
India's badminton hopes at Paris Olympics
India will be represented by national stalwarts in the Paris Olympics. Apart from Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, athletes like PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto will also be representing the tricolor at the showpiece event.
Sindhu, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and also bronze and silver previously across two Olympics campaigns, will aim a comeback after she didn't enjoy a superb return to the sport post her injury.
Meanwhile, Ponnappa, who will appear at her second Summer Games after her first appearance in 2012, will partner with Crasto. The duo are also medal hopefuls in Paris Olympics, considering the promise they have shown since 2023.