‘It’s Always Plan A’: Satwik-Chirag Reveal Winning Formula After China Masters Triumph

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have no place for a Plan B in their badminton strategy. The world No. 5 pair prefer to trust their strengths while making tactical adjustments according to their opponents, a formula that recently helped them secure their maiden China Masters title.

“It’s always Plan A, there is no Plan B for us,” Satwik said during a virtual interaction facilitated by the Badminton Association of India. He explained that their approach varies depending on the opposition. Against Indonesian or Malaysian pairs who are less powerful hitters, they look to defend and gradually move into attack. Against strong attacking combinations, they aim to challenge them in the front court.

The victory in China came after the duo worked hard to improve their physical condition following a disappointing BWF World Championships campaign, where limited court time affected their match sharpness.

Satwik said competing at a high level despite not being physically at their best during the World Championships gave them an important confidence boost. At the China Masters, they were able to cope with the physical demands throughout the week and became increasingly comfortable as the tournament progressed.

Chirag said their detailed review of the World Championships helped them address both technical and psychological shortcomings. One of the biggest lessons was to remain patient while attacking and trust their defence.

The pair defeated China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 in the final on Sunday, claiming their 10th BWF World Tour title and second World Tour crown of the season. Their run also included several demanding three-game matches, yet they felt physically stronger than they had at the World Championships.

The triumph has provided valuable momentum ahead of their Asian Games title defence later this month. Chirag, however, played down expectations that they are the pair to beat, stressing that several strong combinations will be competing.

The duo also plans to maintain their trademark on-court dance celebrations, with Satwik saying the routine is spontaneous and has become a tradition.

With their next assignments in Japan approaching, Chirag's immediate focus remains simple: “More practice, more practice, more practice.”