Coach Tan Reveals Mental Masterplan Behind Satwik-Chirag’s World Championship Bid

World Championships: Coach Tan Backs Mentally Strong Satwik-Chirag to Challenge for Historic Title

Nearly a decade after pairing Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty together, chief doubles coach Tan Kim Her believes India’s star men’s doubles duo have the game and mindset to challenge for their maiden BWF World Championships title in New Delhi.

Having reunited with Tan 18 months ago, the former World No. 1 pair have steadily rebuilt their form after the disappointment of the Paris Olympics. Now ranked World No. 5, Satwik and Chirag ended a two-year title drought by winning the Singapore Open Super 750 in May and head into the World Championships with renewed confidence.

The biggest boost for India ahead of the tournament is Satwik’s improving fitness. The recurring right shoulder injury that has troubled him since 2018 is close to full recovery, giving the Indian camp confidence ahead of the August 17 start.

“Satwik’s shoulder is almost fully recovered now. I think he’ll be ready to play when the tournament starts,” Tan said.

The fifth-seeded Indians have received a first-round bye and will open their campaign against either Thailand’s Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn-Worrapol Thongsa-nga or Scotland’s Alexander Dunn-Adam Pringle.

Balancing Fitness and Expectations

Tan admitted that managing Satwik’s shoulder has remained the team’s biggest challenge, prompting the coaching staff to limit the pair’s tournament schedule instead of chasing ranking points. “Most pairs play 18 or 19 tournaments in a season. We have deliberately played fewer events because injuries have been our biggest concern. Both of them are disciplined, but injuries are something you cannot control,” he said.

According to the Malaysian coach, staying mentally strong has been just as important as staying physically fit. Reflecting on the team’s struggles earlier this year, Tan said the pair often found themselves burdened by expectations rather than focusing on executing their game plan.

“The pressure comes when you keep thinking that you have to win. It was the same during the Olympics, when everyone expected them to win a medal. Expectations became too high. The important thing is managing that pressure,” he said.

To overcome that challenge, Satwik and Chirag have been working with a sports psychologist to shift their focus from results to performance, especially with the added pressure of competing before home fans.

Attack Remains India’s Biggest Weapon

Despite acknowledging the consistency of World No. 1 Korean pair Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae, Tan has no plans to change India’s identity. “Our game is different. Around 60 per cent of our badminton is attacking. If we get the attack first, we have a very good chance of winning,” he said.

While he rated the Korean pair’s defence as superior, Tan maintained that an in-form Satwik and Chirag are capable of beating any team in the world. “If they are mentally strong and confident, they can beat anyone, just like they showed in Singapore. But if they are not mentally ready, they can lose to anyone,” he added.

One Match at a Time

With the World Championships to be followed by the Asian Games, where the duo will defend their men’s doubles gold medal, Tan has urged his players to remain focused on the present. “We cannot win every tournament. The important thing is to peak for the major tournaments. My message to them is simple—stay calm, trust the process and take one match at a time,” he said.

For Tan, redemption for Paris or the pressure of playing at home means little once the shuttle is in play. What matters is entering each match with confidence, executing India’s attacking game and peaking when the stakes are highest.