NEW DELHI: After beating Malaysians Man Wei Chong and Kai Wun Tee 23-21, 19-21, 21-16 in the first round of the $950,000 India Open here on Tuesday, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy gave partner Chirag Shetty a fist bump and embrace before running over to shake hands with a familiar face in the coach's corner.
Tan Kim Her was grinning ear-to-ear, delighted to see his wards enter the second round of the Super 750 event after beating tricky opponents he knew well.
It was almost a decade ago that the famous Malaysian coach decided to pair up Rankireddy and Shetty against their wishes. Tan had read the playing styles of the two shuttlers well enough to realize that they would click. Though they struggled initially, what happened next took Indian men's doubles badminton to the top echelons of the sport.
Rankireddy and Shetty became the first Indian pair - across all three categories - to be ranked No. 1 in the world; they became the first men's doubles pair to medal at the World Championships and became the first Indian men's doubles pair to win gold at both the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games apart from winning multiple elite tournaments on the BWF World Tour.
After Tan left, the pair flourished even more under Mathias Boe. But after the Dane quit post the Paris Olympics, Tan was brought back by the Badminton Association of India (BAI), reuniting him with the pair he initially brought together.
"It is great to have Tan coach back after six years. A lot of credit goes to him for all our achievements so far. We were youngsters back then. When he left we were in the top 20. He's had a good five years with the Japan team. Now, the approach is a lot different than it was in 2016," says Shetty.
This story is from the January 15, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Gurugram.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 15, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Gurugram.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Ranji Trophy struggles to align despite the star turn
For a long time, Ranji Trophy has reflected all the symptoms of the apathy shown to it by the players and BCCI - empty stands, lack of star players, poor wickets, bad umpiring, and no marketing.
Closure in the 26/11 attacks
Tahawwur Rana's extradition will help NIA unearth more details about Pakistan's role in plotting the Mumbai terror strike
Foreign Secy Misri to Hold Talks During Two-Day China Visit
Foreign secretary Vikram Misri arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a two-day visit during which he will hold talks with Chinese officials, in the second such high-profile visit from India to China in less than one-and-a-half months.
U-19 T20 WC: India crush B'desh to storm into semis
In-form Trisha Gongadi and left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma led the charge for India as the defending champions delivered a commanding performance to storm into the semi-finals of the Women's U-19 T20 World Cup at the Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
Lakhpati Didis drivers of developed India: Chouhan
Nari Shakti' at play with all-women contingents
Cong: BJP communalising city's political atmosphere
PARTY DEMANDS THAT MOVIE ON FEB 2020 RIOTS BE DEFERRED TILL AFTER THE DELHI ELECTIONS, CALLS FILM ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE VOTERS
India's Asian Winter Games participation hanging in balance
India's participation in the Asian Winter Games scheduled to be held in Harbin, China, from February 7, is in doubt after it was learnt that the organisers, the Olympic Council of Asia, on Sunday turned down accreditation requests for a new set of players in ice hockey and snowboarding.
Surviving in politics without perks of office
The resignation of V Vijayasai Reddy, the national general secretary of the YSR Congress Party, from the Rajya Sabha suggests a looming crisis in that party.
MCG Chief Inspects Civic, Sewage Issues in Village
The Gurugram Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) commissioner, Ashok Kumar Garg, inspected the Mohammadpur Jharsa village on Saturday to assess the sewer overflow and sanitation issues, and directed officials to ensure immediate solutions to the identified problems, officials said on Sunday.
USAID move to halt new funds could impact initiatives in India
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has paused new funding for programmes across the world following the Trump administration's decision to halt all foreign aid, barring that to Egypt and Israel, a move that will impact some initiatives in India.