The 2025 season has been anything but smooth for India’s top men’s doubles badminton pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. Once ranked world No. 1, the reigning Asian Games champions have stumbled from one setback to another. They’ve played seven tournaments this year — and not reached a single final. But to chalk this up as a poor run of form would be oversimplifying the story.
The toll has been personal and physical. Satwik carried a back injury into last year’s Paris Olympics, where the pair exited in the quarter-finals. Earlier this year, he lost his father — a tragedy that left him emotionally shattered. Meanwhile, Chirag’s own injuries compounded the trouble. A flare-up in his back at the All England Open forced them to concede mid-tournament. Then came a withdrawal from the Sudirman Cup due to Satwik’s illness.
Their disrupted training and preparation couldn’t have come at a worse time — right as they were adjusting to a new coach. The experienced Malaysian Tan Kim Her returned for a second stint in December, stepping in after Denmark’s Mathias Boe exited following the Olympics.
The man who helped build them
Boe was more than just a coach — he was the architect of their rise. Under the 2012 Olympic silver medallist’s guidance, Satwik and Chirag became Commonwealth Games and Asian Games champions and claimed bronze at the 2022 World Championships. From his home in Denmark, Boe continues to follow their matches.
When your training gets interrupted that often, you lose rhythm — and with it, confidence. And on top of that, they’re adapting to a new coaching voice. A lot has changed.
So far in 2025, the duo's best results have been semi-final appearances at the Malaysia, India, and Singapore Opens.
Yet Boe believes this is a missed opportunity. "The overall level of men’s doubles has dropped after the Paris Olympics," he said. “Several top pairs have retired or split. This was a golden chance.”
“Honestly, Satwik and Chirag should be winning most of these tournaments. The only pair really stepping up is Korea’s Seo Seung Jae and Kim Won Ho — and even they are beatable for Satwik and Chirag.”
What’s going wrong?
Although he remains respectful of the new coaching setup, Boe isn’t shy about offering insights.
“Tactically, I would’ve coached them differently,” he said.
Boe feels the duo are playing too fast, too direct — trying to overpower opponents without varying the tempo.
“They’re rushing rallies. It’s turning into a wrestling match, rather than smart badminton,” he said. “They should be lowering the shuttle, forcing the lift, and then using their strong attacking game from the backline. Right now, it’s just drive after drive — flat and fast — and that plays into the hands of skillful Southeast Asian pairs.”
Another weakness he observes? Predictability.
“When receiving serve, they aren’t mixing it up. They challenge or push too much. There’s no surprise element — and that makes their game easy to read.”
‘No stress — but it’s a warning sign’
Satwik (24) and Chirag (28) are still India’s best hope to defend their Asian Games crown next year and make a mark at the 2028 LA Olympics.
Boe says there’s no need for panic — but warns that complacency will be costly.
“No stress, but it’s definitely time to step up,” he said. “They can’t just come to practice and leave their brains at the entrance. Every session, every shot needs to be evaluated and smartly planned.”
He believes a few confidence-boosting wins could spark a turnaround. But that turnaround needs to begin now — at the China Open starting July 22.
The bigger picture: Indian badminton’s silent slump
Boe also expressed concern over the broader state of Indian badminton post-Olympics.
“The results haven’t been impressive,” he said. “Yes, we saw a spark when 20-year-old Ayush Shetty won the US Open in June — that was amazing. He beat senior Indian players and showed what hunger looks like.”
But such performances remain rare. “Indian badminton needs players reaching finals consistently. That hasn’t been happening. It’s time to go back to the basics and work hard.”
What’s next for Boe?
Though Boe has stepped away from coaching for now, he hasn’t left badminton behind.
Married to Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu, Boe is enjoying time with family while splitting time between India and Denmark. But he hinted that a return to the sport — in some form — is inevitable.
“I’m working on a few projects. I’ll share more soon. I hope what I build next can support the next generation of Indian players,” he signed off.