As Chirag Shetty turns 29, the Indian men’s doubles star and partner Satwiksairaj Rankireddy set their sights on a historic BWF World Championships gold in New Delhi.
(PC: BAI Media)
As Chirag Shetty celebrates his 29th birthday, there is little time for the Indian badminton star to dwell on the occasion. With the BWF World Championships in New Delhi less than two months away, the focus has already shifted from birthday celebrations to what could become the defining week of his career.
Alongside long-time partner Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Shetty will return to the sport’s biggest stage, carrying not just India’s hopes but also the opportunity to achieve something no Indian men’s doubles pair has managed before – winning a World Championships gold.
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Joining fans in celebrating the occasion, the Badminton Association of India wished Shetty on X, writing: “Big smiles, massive smashes, and unstoppable energy! Happy Birthday, Chirag Shetty!”
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It also looked ahead to the biggest event on the calendar, asking fans if they were ready to cheer him on at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi.
Big smiles, massive smashes, and unstoppable energy! 💥 Happy Birthday, Chirag Shetty! 🥳
New Delhi, are you excited to cheer for him at the BWF World Championships 2026? 🏟️✨
Leave your birthday wishes in the comments below! 👇 pic.twitter.com/QxsCZ53rik
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 4, 2026
Satwik and Chirag have already transformed Indian men’s doubles. They remain the only Indian pair to win multiple medals at the World Championships, securing bronze in Tokyo in 2022 before adding another bronze in Paris in 2025. They have also broken barriers across the sport, becoming India’s first men’s doubles pair to win gold at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the Badminton Asia Championships while playing a pivotal role in India’s historic Thomas Cup triumph in 2022.
Yet one prize continues to elude them.
This year presents perhaps their best opportunity to change that.
The World Championships return to Indian soil for the first time in 17 years, with New Delhi set to host the prestigious event from August 17 to 23. Home support, familiar conditions and the confidence of playing in front of thousands of Indian fans could provide the extra edge needed in a discipline where matches are often decided by the narrowest of margins.
More importantly, the duo enters the tournament with renewed belief.
After battling injuries and inconsistency over the past two seasons, Satwik and Chirag appear to have rediscovered the level that once made them the world’s top-ranked pair.
Their title-winning campaign at the Singapore Open 2026 served as a reminder of just how dangerous they can be. In one of the standout performances of the season, they ended the 34-match winning streak of world No. 1 Koreans Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae before defeating Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri in the final to claim their first title in nearly two years.
The triumph was particularly significant considering the setbacks they had endured earlier in the season. Recurring shoulder issues for Rankireddy forced the pair to withdraw from multiple tournaments, including the Badminton Asia Championships and the Swiss Open, while they also retired midway through their opening-round match at the Indonesia Open to avoid aggravating the injury.
For Shetty, there could hardly be a more fitting birthday wish than arriving at the World Championships healthy, confident and playing in front of a home crowd.
The bronze medals have already secured their place in Indian badminton history. Gold, however, would place Satwik and Chirag in a league of their own.
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