Who is Satwiksairaj Rankireddy? 5 things you didn't know about India's badminton doubles star

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy is one of four shuttlers to represent the Indian contingent in badminton at the Tokyo Olympics. Hailing from Andhra, the 20-year-old is one of the world's best smashers and has developed into a top player in the doubles category.

As he sets his eyes on an Olympic medal, here are a few things you probably didn't know about the ace shuttler.

#1 Satwiksairaj comes from a family with a huge sporting background

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy comes from a sporting family. His father was a state-level badminton player and so was his brother. Satwik's interest in the game developed further and at the age of 14, he joined the iconic Pullela Gopichand Academy to sharpen his skills.

#2 Where is Satwiksairaj Rankireddy currently ranked?

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy is currently ranked 10th with his partner Chirag Shetty in the world rankings. He also competes in the mixed doubles category along with women's badminton star Ashwini Ponnappa.

The duo are ranked 22nd and missed out on an Olympic berth as tournaments got canceled because of the pandemic.

#3 Who is currently coaching Satwiksairaj?

Satwiksairaj and his doubles partner Chirag Shetty are currently coached by Mathias Boe. The former doubles World No. 1 took over the reins from former coach Tan Kim Her and has since been working with the formidable duo.

In a recent exclusive chat with Sportskeeda, Satwiksairaj said:

"Mathias Boe played with all the top combinations in the world until last year, when he announced his retirement in 2020. He has seen all the men's doubles pairs quite closely. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of all the players. This factor is very crucial for us."

#4 Satwiksairaj is an Arjuna award recipient

Satwiksairaj was bestowed with the Arjuna Award in 2020 for his contribution to the sport of badminton. He was recently given Rs. 5 lakh by the Andhra Pradesh government for his Olympic preparations. In his Mann ki baat speech, PM Narendra Modi congratulated the 20-year-old on the Olympic qualification and lauded his spirit of fighting off COVID-19.

#5 How many titles have Satwiksairaj and Chirag Shetty won together?

The formidable duo are one of India's top doubles teams and had once reached seventh in the world rankings. The duo was successful in winning the 2019 Thailand Open, which was the first time an Indian men's doubles team had won a Super 500 title. Satwik and Chirag have also managed to win the Syed Modi International and Hyderabad Open in recent years.

The pair complement each other really well. Their heights come in handy and help them cover the court quite easily. The duo have been playing together for a long time now, and their superb chemistry will be the key as they aim for a podium finish in Tokyo.