'Hopefully, we will return next month after Satwik's rehab': Chirag Shetty

The remarkable Indian badminton duo of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy are yet to return to action after the 2024 Paris Olympics and due to an injury to Satwik, the return is getting delayed.

The duo is yet to return to the BWF World Tour circuit as they recently pulled out of the Denmark Open at the last moment as Satwik is recovering from his injury.

"My partner is injured currently, we will start soon and make our plan. Hopefully, we will return next month as Satwik is undergoing rehab,' Chirag Shetty told ANI on the sidelines of the event titled 'Beyond the Finish Line', organized by Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon.

"We wanted to win a medal in the Paris Olympics but that was not to be. But never say never. We have won almost every medal except for an Olympic medal. We would also like to win gold in the World Championships," Chirag added further.

The Indian duo entered the 2024 Paris Olympics as medal favourites but were knocked out by the eventual bronze-medalist Malaysian duo of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the quarter-finals.

Chirag said that the quarterfinal exit was a "disappointing" one and it was some "unlucky points and missed opportunities" in the third game that made a difference.

The shuttler said that while the immediate reaction to the Olympic loss from fans, colleagues, and close people saw them express disappointment, it was their close friends and family who were supportive.

"Everyone was as disappointed as we were. Our close friends and family were supportive and said that there is always a second chance, so keep pushing yourself. Medal in the 2028 LA Olympics is our target," Chirag concluded.