Chirag and his companion Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, who gained the Commonwealth Video games gold medal final 12 months, have been merely sensational this season with their title-winning run extending to the Indonesia Open, Asia Championships, Swiss Open and Korea Open.
“As a pair I’d wish to win all of the tournaments which might be there on the circuit. So, hopefully a few years down the road after I retire, I wish to have a room full of all the massive medals that badminton has to supply,” Chirag instructed PTI in an interview.
“I am fairly keen about that, I would like all of the medals whether or not it’s the Olympics, Asian Video games, Commonwealth Video games, the world tour finals, there are a lot of tournaments that we nonetheless have not gained and I’d wish to win every thing that badminton has to supply,” he stated.
The world quantity two Indian duo gained a maiden bronze medal on the final World Championships and is all set to compete at this version’s showpiece in Copenhagen, Denmark from August 21.
“We aren’t wanting on the end result. We’re simply on the market to play our greatest badminton and I do know for a proven fact that if we are able to play wherever near our greatest badminton, then we are able to beat any pair on the planet.
“And even on the World Championships subsequent week, I believe that will be our principal goal: take one match at a time and see the way it goes.
“It does not should be the most effective, however even when it is wherever near that, we are able to win every spherical and I really feel we do stand an opportunity to play deep into the match. Taking part in at our greatest or wherever near our greatest is our final goal in every match.”
The 26-year-old from Mumbai feels consistency has been the massive change within the final 12 months and the power to change positions from again to entrance on the courtroom as a pair has emerged as a serious “weapon” for them.
“I believe the entrance courtroom recreation has positively been fairly good and I’ve at all times been good on the web and Satwik has at all times been good on the again.
“However these days we have additionally been enjoying a recreation the place Satwik can be on the web lots of occasions and I’m on the backcourt and that’s additionally a setup which isn’t standard for each me and Satwik.
“That has positively taken our opponents abruptly as effectively as a result of they’re at all times used to me enjoying on the entrance finish, Satwik on the again. However with the dynamics altering, I believe it is positively come as a weapon for each of us.
“However as they are saying, there’s at all times scope for enchancment. It is at all times a studying course of and we nonetheless have a protracted approach to go.”
Chirag and Satwik’s shares elevated dramatically after the Badminton Affiliation of India (BAI) employed 2012 London Olympics silver medallist Mathias Boe to coach them forward of the Tokyo Video games in 2021.
“Mathias (Boe) coming in has been useful. Working with him for the previous one 12 months and a half has been good for each me and Satwik. What has been working effectively for us this 12 months is that we have been much more constant,” he stated.
“I believe because the Thomas Cup final 12 months, we have develop into much more constant.
“Earlier, there have been cases the place we have misplaced within the very first spherical like in Thailand and Singapore. However one of many main issues that has modified is consistency and perception in ourselves.”
Their on-court efficiency mirrored on their world rankings as Chirag and Satwik zoomed to world quantity two.
However Chirag stated they don’t seem to be actually chasing the primary spot and their focus stays on successful massive occasions.
“Firstly of the 12 months, our principal goal was to enter the highest three on the planet which we have achieved halfway by means of the 12 months, however my goal has at all times been to win tournaments, rating ultimately follows,” Chirag stated.
“I’d be happier being a world champion than changing into a world primary any day, or develop into an Olympic champion and be a world quantity 50, it does not matter.
“What issues for me is to win at massive occasions. Little doubt world primary feels good, clearly the rank will signify that I’m fairly constant on tour and I’m top-of-the-line gamers on the planet.
“However for each me and Satwik, I’d say successful tournaments is a complete lot extra vital than being ranked primary on the planet.”
Chirag and Sarwik had been left heartbroken once they didn’t qualify for the knockout levels of the Tokyo Olympics regardless of successful two out of three video games.
Chirag stated whereas the 2024 Paris Olympics stays the long-term purpose, they’re at the moment focussing on short-term targets.
“Yeah, clearly successful an Olympic medal is our final purpose and it is positively the long-term goal, but it surely’s nonetheless a 12 months to go and it is at all times behind our thoughts,” he stated.
“However each me and Satwik, we normally set short-term targets and I believe the World Championships and Asian Video games can be the subsequent set of tournaments that we wish to play good at. That will be our focus for now.”
