First Sports Exclusive: Satwik-Chirag hope Khel Ratna Award 'spurs them to achieve even greater heights'

For Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, Tuesday is going to be a very special day indeed. The Indian badminton men’s doubles pair, who recently clinched a historic gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games, are set to be conferred with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, the highest sporting honour in the country, at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on 9 January.

Satwik and Chirag added another feather to their cap by winning India’s first ever badminton gold at the Asian Games. What makes their feat all the more special is the fact the Asian Games could be considered something of a World Cup due to the presence of badminton powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and other nations.

Satwik and Chirag had previously created history in the 2022 BWF World Championships by winning bronze — the first medal won by an Indian pair in this event.

The pair had previously be bestowed with the Arjuna Award, and Satwik knew they would have to work a lot harder if they were to win the Khel Ratna Award. What made winning the highest sporting honour in the country all the more tricky was the fact that rarely has the award been given to more than one individual at a time.

“First when we got the Arjuna Award, we thought we should work more hard for the Khel Ratna Award. It’s not so easy to get to two players and in doubles event it’s more tough for us. We need to prove very much in the high level to get the Khel Ratna. Luckily we did very well in Asian Games, so we thought we have a good chance now, we played really well this year. Really happy when we got to know,” Satwik said in an exclusive conversation on an episode of First Sports.

Chirag, meanwhile, hoped the accolade inspires them to achieve even greater heights later in their career.

“It feels extremely good that you’ve been bestowed with the highest sporting honour in the country. All the previous winners have been trailblazers in their sport, probably the best in their sport. So I think it’s truly a big honour for us and I hope it only spurs us to achieve even greater heights,” said Chirag.

Watch the full episode below: