Paris Olympics 2024 Badminton: Heartbreak for India as Satwik and Chirag go down in thrilling quarterfinals to end their campaign
In a gripping quarterfinal clash at the Paris Olympics 2024, India's men's doubles stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were narrowly defeated 21-13, 14-21, 16-21 by Malaysia's World No. 3 pair Aaron Chia and Wooi Yik Soh on Thursday, August 1. The match that went the distance was filled with intense rallies and powerful smashes from all four shuttlers.
The first game saw both pairs engaged in a fierce battle right from the outset. While the Indians unleashed powerful smashes that often caught the Malaysians off guard, the score remained tight at 5-5 and 8-8 before the Indians managed to edge ahead, leading 11-10 at the mid-game interval.
After the break, Satwik and Chirag surged forward, extending their lead to 15-10 and then to 19-12, eventually wrapping up the game with a convincing 21-13 scoreline.
The second game saw Satwik and Chirag start strong, taking an early 4-0 lead with their relentless attacking play. However, the Malaysians fought back to level the score at 4-4 and then took the lead. The battle mirrored the first game's intensity, with both pairs taking points alternately. The Indians narrowly trailed 10-11 at the break.
Despite Satwik's thunderous smashes and Chirag's finishes from the net, the Malaysians managed to break the deadlock, pulling ahead to 15-12. They maintained their momentum and clinched the second game 21-14, setting the stage for a decider.
The final game began with the Malaysians capitalizing on their momentum, taking a 2-0 lead. A series of unforced errors from the Indians allowed their opponents to surge ahead to 5-2. However, the Indians showed resilience, leveling the score and taking their first lead of the game at 10-9 before going up 11-9 at the side change.
Post-interval, the Malaysians appeared rejuvenated, quickly tying the game at 11-11. A fierce tussle ensued, with the Indians pulling away to 14-11, only for the Malaysians to claw back and take a slender lead.
In a nail-biting finish, the Malaysians managed to outpace the Indians, taking a crucial 18-16 lead before winning the game 21-16, dashing the hopes of the World No. 5 Indian duo and securing their spot in the semifinals.
HS Prannoy to face Lakshya Sen in all-Indian pre-quarterfinal clash at the Paris Olympics 2024
Lakshya Sen achieved an unbelievable victory against World No. 3 Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in his final group-stage match on Wednesday (July 31). Sen's outstanding performance featured a remarkable comeback from 8-2 down in the first game to win it 21-18. He followed this with an emphatic 21-12 victory in the second game to secure the match.
Meanwhile, India’s HS Prannoy showcased incredible resilience, making a comeback from one game down to defeat Vietnam's Le Duc Phat 16-21, 21-11, 21-12 to set up an all-Indian clash.