In a recent interview, Indian badminton doubles players Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty expressed strong frustration with the state of the sport in India. Satwik stated, 'I never share anything usually. I let go of things. But this time, I exploded. Someone has to speak up. It's okay if I'm seen as the villain.' He added that he has been thinking for the last six months whether only people who do bad things become popular.
The duo, who have achieved significant success including a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and a historic Thomas Cup victory in 2022, said they would not want their children to pursue badminton professionally. Chirag echoed the sentiment, citing the lack of support and recognition for players. The interview, published on May 6, 2026, has sparked discussions about the challenges faced by Indian shuttlers.
Satwik and Chirag have been among India's most successful doubles pairs, but their comments highlight ongoing issues with funding, infrastructure, and administrative support in Indian badminton. The pair did not specify any particular incident that triggered their outburst but emphasized the need for systemic change.
