By their own admission, 2025 has been an uneven year for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. Now, as they head to the TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2025, they will seek to iron out inconsistencies that have crept in, mostly due to circumstances beyond their control.
But while the Indian duo haven’t won a title in over a year, they haven’t blown way off course either. After their quarterfinals finish at Paris 2024, they made three straight semifinals, including the Malaysia Open and India Open this year. Following a dip due to a back injury to Shetty at the All England, they featured in the semifinals in Singapore and China.

“It was quite difficult after the Olympics,” says Rankireddy. “I was injured, my trainer changed, it became a new circle. We played well in a few semifinals, then a few personal issues and injuries… so there was no rhythm. Overall if you look back, we are on the right track. We’re doing everything right. We just need to believe. It’s just a matter of time. Once we play tournaments continuously, we’ll be there.”
A back injury to Shetty after the All England saw them take a two-month break; when they arrived at the Singapore Open, they weren’t very hopeful.
The injuries have disrupted rhythm; that they have achieved strong results despite the disruptions is cause for assurance.

“We have to get fit 100 per cent,” says Rankireddy. “We haven’t played without injury for the last one year, we’ve been playing with niggles. We need to be healthy all the time, and not think too far ahead. Once we’re healthy, we can do well. Injuries have been restricting our game.”
There were plenty of positives in their performances in the last leg of the Asian tour before the World Championships. In Japan they beat Kang Min Hyuk/Ki Dong Ju in 42 minutes before falling to Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang.
They upped the game in China, with straight-games defeats of Leo Rolly Carnando/Bagas Maulana and Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi before running into a pair that’s given them a lot of trouble over the years – Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik.
Yet, both Shetty and Rankireddy know they are some way off their ‘A’ game; that when it all comes together, they will be among the frontline contenders at the World Championships.
“It will take some time,” says Shetty. “We are still not at our 100 per cent yet… with each passing day we’re feeling better. There’s still a long way to go. I wouldn’t say we are at our best yet.”