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The article delves into the strategic shift undertaken by the Indian badminton duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, following their disappointing performance at the Olympics. The primary focus is on the revamped coaching strategy that emphasized a relentless, all-out attacking style of play. This shift, orchestrated by coaches Tan Kim Her and Pullela Gopichand, aimed to unleash the duo's inherent potential as attacking powerhouses, moving away from a more defensive, European-influenced approach previously instilled by Mathias Boe. The article highlights the clarity of the instructions given to the players: a simple yet powerful 'Hulk. Smash,' encapsulating the essence of their new game plan. The coaching personnel realized that Satwik-Chirag's natural game involved a more aggressive style of play. They needed to stop tip-toeing around the competition and directly attack with unrelenting force. The article mentions that Tan Kim Her observed the potential of Satwik-Chirag circa 2015-2016 when he brought them together. Gopichand insisted on a fully blown, aggressive attacking playstyle that had no punches pulled. This would become Satwik-Chirag's defining canon. The result of this strategic overhaul was evident in their recent victory at the Singapore Open, where they convincingly defeated the then World No. 1 Malaysian pair, Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin, in under 40 minutes. This victory served as a testament to the effectiveness of the attacking strategy and its ability to dismantle even the most formidable opponents.
The context of the article includes the duo's journey, starting with a semifinal defeat to Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin at the India Open earlier in 2025. The Singapore Open win, therefore, represents a significant turnaround and a demonstration of their progress. The article also foreshadows a potentially challenging semi-final match against Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, the Malaysian pair that dashed their Olympic medal hopes in Paris. The author suggests that in favorable conditions, Satwik-Chirag are likely to be given the green light to unleash their attacking prowess, avoiding getting bogged down in protracted rallies, a tactic that Aaron Chia is likely to employ. The article then focuses on the specifics of the Singapore Open match against Goh-Izzuddin. The author notes that the intent to attack from the very beginning worked well for the Indian duo. Though Satwik’s serve began with some rust, and he was faulted for height, he ended the first set with an unreturnable serve to give them the 21-17 first strike. It highlights specific moments, such as Satwik's clever pushes to the backhand corner, followed by two consecutive powerful smashes from both Satwik and Chirag. It really is difficult to pick just one Indian player, but the article emphasizes when both players forget their tune-up jabs and attack with a smash-smash routine, very few defenses can hold. It mentions that Chirag is recovering from back problems, but attacks freely when jumping high. The duo kept the rallies snappy and short, which made it easier to control the flat game.
The author further analyzes the individual performances, acknowledging that Izuddin had moments of brilliance with his returns and drops. However, the Indians remained unfazed, maintaining their aggressive and fearless approach. Satwik, in his post-match interview with the BWF, emphasized the importance of focusing on their own strategy rather than getting entangled in their opponents' game plan. He stresses the fact that he and Chirag are focusing on their own strategy instead of getting drawn into mazes set by the opposition. He acknowledges that allowing the opponent to dictate the pace and rhythm of rallies had been a point of failure for the duo when they lost at the World Championships in 2023 and Olympics in 2024. Now, the pair insists on taking the lead. "Because we want to play our A game and see what they come up with," Satwik said. Chirag also acknowledges the journey they've taken. He mentions that he and Satwik only trained for 10 days in a span of 2 months and had doubts on if they could even play at Singapore due to his back injury. The article concludes by reiterating the significance of the coaches' role in instilling this attacking mindset. It is noted that Coach Tan had manifested this attacking mode a decade ago and now had to help the pair realize that potential against Aaron-Soh. The author highlights the coaches' animated reactions after the win, suggesting that it was more than just a bettered Round 2 record, but a validation of their strategic approach, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to reach the final on Sunday.