India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, right, and Chirag Shetty play against Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik during their men's doubles final match at Indonesia Open badminton tournament at Istora Senayan Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
There were no dark shades or a black cape, just an orange band knotted at the back of the head. But Chirag Shetty was fully in Matrix Neo mode on the day. Parked at midcourt – at a microsecond’s notice to pounce at the net – he was converting defense to offense with his quick hands that moved at super speed, and packed off the bird to the other end.
While 85 percent of their winning points in the Indonesia Open final might’ve come through their attack, the 15 per cent defense was not passive retrieving. Maintaining speed and power throughout the 21-17, 21-18 win, the Indians countered when pushed to the midcourt by Aaron Chia and Son Wooi Yik.
Chirag Shetty’s aggressive defense was especially noteworthy in how his torso contorted at exceptional speed and his arm moved like fast tentacles giving the Malaysians no breathing space.
Sometimes the pace of his returns from the midcourt gave opponents no time to position themselves for attack. And though defense is not considered the Indians’ forte, the slowish conditions today meant they could transition from defense to attack in split seconds, and earn points on the counterattack against the world champion pair.
Shetty is 187 cms, which means his head is a foot at least above the net which is 5 feet high. To bring his head at eye level with the net, Shetty has had to crouch down in defense — bend at the knees. Not only has he perfected the squat defense from where he was taking the shuttles coming at high speed onto him, but he’s also developed the pouncing action which helps him get to the forecourt net in a matter of seconds.
The quick movement to the net is spectacular, in a flash, partly from anticipation, and also because his coordination with Satwik and court craft has improved tremendously.
Peak fitness was also on display because both didn’t slow down. Usually when pushed into defensive positions, the Indians tended to slow down in the past, start playing safe, something Aaron Chia would immediately capitalise on. Not today.
(1/3) Indonesia Open Super 1000 Champions!
On this Fathers Day , I can’t help but think of the man who helped shape me into the person I am today – My Dad. This victory is dedicated to him , my forever inspiration and the person who believed in me from the very beginning. pic.twitter.com/d4YbcHuHFF
The exceptionally high pace in defense meant it was hardly seen as a liability by the opponents – something to pick up on. It was the same pace which incidentally had helped the Indians beat the World No 1s 21-13, 21-13 in the quarterfinals.
Satwik’s net game meanwhile improved ever since he stopped playing mixed doubles – lifting cross, not straight et al.
Assured in defense
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Eight losses in a row have meant there was plenty of experience to mine from to devise strategy. “We’ve come close in beating them but we’ve held ourselves back, but this time we stuck to the plan and it paid rich dividends. Plan was to not hold ourselves back while receiving. We’ve always served well against them. Their service and receiving is good, serve spins a lot. So we had to be upfront. Also knew rallies will be short. Didn’t want that. If the shuttle was low we were lifting it instead of putting in in between because we knew our defense is strong now,” Shetty told the BWF.
Defense had been their bane, rather their own belief in their defense – something that did not waver on the day. “The previous 8 times we lost we always felt we could’ve defended well,” Rankireddy told the BWF. On Sunday they defended with conviction.
It took a while to course correct. “Starting we were playing to their strength – they wanted fast, flat. But then we said in the break let’s play our style, let’s open up the game. Let them move, let them work to get the point. That was the strategy. First they played well to get to 6-3, then they gave away five easy points. Realised they are under pressure. In the second we decided we will defend, no problem our defense is good,” Satwik added.
Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball.
Professional Profile
Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express.
Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics.
Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium.
Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025)
Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond:
Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style.
PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps.
The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals.
Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas.
Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes.
Notable Recent Articles
BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025)
The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025)
Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025)
Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025)
Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025)
Other Sports Interests
Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts.
You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More
