Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya honoured badminton stalwarts Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award in New Delhi on Thursday. The presentation completed a long-pending felicitation of the iconic pair.
Chirag and Satwik’s names were announced last year, but the duo could not attend the ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan due to their playing commitments.
Satwik and Chirag were due to receive the award from Mandaviya in February, but the ceremony too had to be postponed after Satwik’s father R Kasi Viswanatham, died of cardiac arrest on the day of the event.
“Felicitated and presented the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023 to our badminton champions, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, in New Delhi today,” Mandaviya posted on X along with pictures of the felicitation held at the Sports Authority of India headquarters here.
“This award is a testament to their dedication and exceptional performances on the court. I wish them the very best in their future endeavours,” he said.
Felicitated and presented the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023 to our badminton champions, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, in New Delhi today.
This award is a testament to their dedication and exceptional performances on the court. I wish them the very best in… pic.twitter.com/bftOQ2KVv1
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) May 1, 2025
Satwik-Chirag’s incredible rise
Satwik and Chirag have been the flagbearers of Indian badminton’s success in recent times.
The pair won gold medals at the 2022 Asian and Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Asian Championships. Satwik and Chirag are the only Indian doubles pair to be ranked No. 1 in the BWF World Rankings and win a BWF World Tour Super 1000 title.
In 2023, Satwik set a Guinness World Record for the fastest badminton smash by a male player with a whopping speed of 565 km/h.
Chirag and Satwik’s names were announced last year, but the duo could not attend the ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan due to their playing commitments. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
