WATCH: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy ‘smashes’ world record for fastest on-field badminton shot
Indian shuttler Satwiksairaj Rankireddy has scripted history and broken yet another world record, this time for the fastest ever badminton hit in open-play.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy hitting a smash during an event. (Photo credit: BAI)
It seems that world records cannot seem to evade Indian shuttler Satwiksairaj Rankireddy this week.
In their victory at the 2023 Korean Open over the former World No. 1 Japanese pair of Taku Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi, Satwik unleashed a smash at the speed of 500kph (310 mph).
He consequently broke the world record for the fastest on-field hit in badminton history. The record previously belonged to Satwik’s fellow countryman and World No.12 Lakshya Sen, who recently delivered a smash at 420 kph during the men’s singles final of the 2023 Canadian Open.
This new record comes mere days after Satwik shattered a decade-long standing Guinness World Record for the fastest badminton hit ever recorded with a smash at an unbelievable speed of 565 km/h (about 351 mph).
The Guinness World Record was conducted in a controlled environment at the Yonex factory gymnasium in Soka, Saitama, Japan.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and his doubles partner Chirag Shetty are now through to the Korea Open men's doubles semi-finals after their comfortable 21-14, 21-17 victory over Taku Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi.