NEW DELHI: Indian men’s pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty on Friday fell short of securing their second World Championships medal as the duo suffered a shock straight-game loss against Denmark’s Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in Copenhagen.
The world no.2 Indian pair, who had previously won a historic bronze in the last championship, struggled to showcase their usual aggressive gameplay.
Satwik and Chirag went down 18-12, 19-21 against the 11th seeded Danish pair in a match that lasted 48 minutes.
Coming into the match with a 2-5 head-to-head count, Satwik and Chirag, who last played the Danish pair in 2021, just couldn’t get going as the local favourites, backed by a vociferous crowd, came up trumps.
Chirag found the going tough, while Satwik tried to keep India in the match as the duo levelled things at 15-15 after losing the opening game but the Danes proved just too good on the day.
Chirag started the proceedings for India with a whipping smash to Kim’s weak serve but soon sprayed into the net too many times as the Danish pair led 5-1.
The Indian started to rotate the strike with Satwik unleashing a booming smash to make it 3-5. The lead for the Danes swelled to 9-5 with Satwik and Chirag committing unforced errors.
Kim charged into the net and produced some good interceptions to lead 11-6 at the interval.
Satwik produced a cross court smash before pouncing on a weak return near the net but a few soft errors and some superb play at the front court by Kim helped the Danish lead 15-9.
Chirag’s mistimed lift was neutralised by two cross court smashes from the backline by the Indian as they brought down the deficit to 15-18.
A loose serve from Chirag was then disposed off by Kim. Satwik unleashed two jump smashes but he followed it with a service fault as Kim and Anders grabbed four game points.
The Indians saved two before the Danes converted with an angled return from Anders.
Things didn’t change much after the change of sides with the Danes leading 3-1 with a good serve from Anders.
The Indians couldn’t play their attacking game and also struggled with their timing, soon trailing 4-9.
Another point went the Danes’ way after the shuttle seemed to have touched Kim’s shirt while going out as it was soon 10-6 up.
Satwik put up a relentless attack during a 32-shot rally but Anders sent down a lethal smash to go 11-7 up at the interval.
Another superb smash from Anders took the Danes to 13-8. It was then the Indians conjured hopes of a turnaround with Chirag producing a smash and two good serves to narrow the lead to 13-14.
The Indians won another attacking rally and then Kim sprayed into the net as it became 15-15. A service error from Anders kept things level at 16-16 before Kim hit a cross court smash and with Satwik hitting the net, the Danes opened a two-point lead.
Satwik went to the net again and then hit wide to hand two match points to the local favourites.
Chirag saved one before the Danes converted to seal their second medal at the World championships.
(With inputs from PTI)<\/span><\/div>\n