Paris, July 27 (UNI) In a thrilling opening to their Paris Olympics campaign on Saturday, the star Indian duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty delivered a performance brimming with intensity and skill.
Their match against France’s Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labarre was a showcase of grit and precision, culminating in a decisive 21-17, 21-14 victory.
The encounter, which spanned a taut 46 minutes, saw India pitted against a fierce French team buoyed by the roaring support of their home fans. Despite the palpable pressure and high stakes, the Asian Games champions remained resolute, turning the tide in their favor with strategic brilliance and explosive smashes.
From the very start, Corvee and Labarre fought valiantly, their swift play challenging the Indian shuttlers and briefly unsettling their rhythm. Yet, the disciplined and powerful strikes from Satwik and Chirag proved too much for the French duo.
With a resounding first-set win, the Indian pair established their dominance early on, seizing the lead with a 21-17 triumph.
The second set, however, revealed the true extent of Satwik-Chirag’s prowess. The French players, while initially managing to pressure the Indian shuttlers, found themselves outpaced and outmaneuvered.
The Indian pair’s relentless speed and precision culminated in a commanding 21-14 victory, securing their first win in the Paris Olympics with emphatic authority.
As the third-seeded pair sets their sights on their next challenge, they will face Germany’s Marvin Seidel and Mark Lamsfuss on July 29. With their Olympic journey now underway, the stakes are higher than ever, and their quest for glory is far from over.
