Rankireddy Impressive in Comeback from Fracture

Besides a big smash, Rankireddy has good touch.

One of the few positives in India’s limp performance at the TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup 2019 was Satwiksairaj Rankireddy.

Watching Rankireddy drill big smashes past opponents in the two matches he played, it didn’t seem he had skipped a beat on the circuit.

But he had, in fact, spent most of this season recovering from a hairline fracture in his sternum (chest bone) that he suffered in December.

Unaware of the injury, he had aggravated it during the Premier Badminton League and that ruled him out until early May.

Nevertheless, Rankireddy and men’s doubles partner Chirag Shetty made a strong return at the Brazil International Challenge, beating Jelle Maas and Robin Tabeling for the title, before making the semifinals of the Denmark Challenge.

In India’s opening match of the Sudirman Cup against No.13 pair Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Jemie Lai, Rankireddy was impressive as he sent his thunderbolts past the Malaysians, while also showing fine touch and cleverness in placement.

“The injury took so long to heal. I couldn’t do any strengthening and had to rest for all of two months. I couldn’t do any upper body work or even running,” said Rankireddy, after he and Ashwini Ponnappa beat No.13 Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai of Malaysia in three close games. “We didn’t play any tournament (mixed doubles) before coming to the Sudirman Cup. We practised two or three times.”

Rankireddy and Ponnappa gave India the lead against Malaysia.

Ponnappa was all praise for her partner after they’d given India the lead: “We were sketchy in the beginning but it got better as the match went on because I started trusting him more and I could go and keep the shuttle at the net. Satwik did a good job in controlling the situation and the back of the court. The most important thing is how we controlled our nerves and stayed positive throughout even though we didn’t have the best of starts in the first game, we kept supporting each other, we were there for each other on court.”

In India’s next tie – a do-or-die battle against China – Rankireddy and men’s doubles partner Chirag Shetty were the only Indians who looked like they could take a point off China, but No.7 pair Han Chengkai and Zhou Haodong recovered from a game down to stop the Indians.

Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty had their chances to reduce the margin for India against China.

“This is the first match of this level for us this season,” explained Shetty. “We did put up a good show, taking it to three games. We should have been more patient at the end.”

Despite the injury layoff, Rankireddy has not slid too far in both his categories. Rankireddy and Shetty are No.23 now (their best was No.16 in January), while his mixed doubles ranking with Ponnappa is No.27 – from a best of 21 in December.

If they stay the course, the two Indian pairs could cause some ripples at events later this season, particularly the TOTAL BWF World Championships in Basel.

Sudirman Cup News

Sudirman Cup: The Most Thrilling Battles

Sudirman Cup: The Most Thrilling Battles

5 June 2019
Stars Who Shone; Those Who Didn’t

Stars Who Shone; Those Who Didn’t

4 June 2019
Key Moments: Chen vs. Yamaguchi – Sudirman Cup ‘19

Key Moments: Chen vs. Yamaguchi – Sudirman Cup ‘19

30 May 2019
Slovakia Daring to Dream – Sudirman Cup ’19

Slovakia Daring to Dream – Sudirman Cup ’19

28 May 2019
Key Moments: Shi vs. Momota – Sudirman Cup ‘19

Key Moments: Shi vs. Momota – Sudirman Cup ‘19

28 May 2019
As It Happened CHN vs JPN – Sudirman Cup ‘19

As It Happened CHN vs JPN – Sudirman Cup ‘19

27 May 2019
Celebrations and Concessions – Sudirman Cup ’19

Celebrations and Concessions – Sudirman Cup ’19

26 May 2019
China’s Young Heroes Reclaim Title – Sudirman Cup ’19

China’s Young Heroes Reclaim Title – Sudirman Cup ’19

26 May 2019
Park: We’re Going All Out! – Sudirman Cup ’19

Park: We’re Going All Out! – Sudirman Cup ’19

25 May 2019
Big Guns Boom for China – Sudirman Cup ’19

Big Guns Boom for China – Sudirman Cup ’19

25 May 2019
Brilliant Canada Top Group 2 – Sudirman Cup ‘19

Brilliant Canada Top Group 2 – Sudirman Cup ‘19

25 May 2019
Indonesia Hobble Past Chinese Taipei – Sudirman Cup ’19

Indonesia Hobble Past Chinese Taipei – Sudirman Cup ’19

24 May 2019
Japan Stay on Track – Sudirman Cup ’19

Japan Stay on Track – Sudirman Cup ’19

24 May 2019
Jonassen: Young Generation ‘Hungry’ – Sudirman Cup ’19

Jonassen: Young Generation ‘Hungry’ – Sudirman Cup ’19

24 May 2019
Another Teen Star in the Making – Sudirman Cup ’19

Another Teen Star in the Making – Sudirman Cup ’19

24 May 2019
China Coast into Semis – Sudirman Cup ’19

China Coast into Semis – Sudirman Cup ’19

23 May 2019
Defending Champs Trip Over Thailand – Sudirman Cup ’19

Defending Champs Trip Over Thailand – Sudirman Cup ’19

23 May 2019
Netherlands Fight Back From Brink – Sudirman Cup ‘19

Netherlands Fight Back From Brink – Sudirman Cup ‘19

23 May 2019
Final Eight Draw – Sudirman Cup ’19

Final Eight Draw – Sudirman Cup ’19

23 May 2019
Danes Deliver! – Sudirman Cup ’19

Danes Deliver! – Sudirman Cup ’19

22 May 2019
Korea Beat Chinese Taipei, Top Group – Sudirman Cup ’19

Korea Beat Chinese Taipei, Top Group – Sudirman Cup ’19

22 May 2019
No Stopping An Se Young! – Sudirman Cup ’19

No Stopping An Se Young! – Sudirman Cup ’19

22 May 2019
Israeli Youngster Embracing the Big Stage – Sudirman Cup ’19

Israeli Youngster Embracing the Big Stage – Sudirman Cup ’19

22 May 2019
Thailand Thwart Russia – Sudirman Cup ’19

Thailand Thwart Russia – Sudirman Cup ’19

21 May 2019
Pathway to Success for Kazakhstan – Sudirman Cup ’19

Pathway to Success for Kazakhstan – Sudirman Cup ’19

21 May 2019
Malaysia Edge Past India – Sudirman Cup ’19

Malaysia Edge Past India – Sudirman Cup ’19

21 May 2019
Continental Conquest! – Sudirman Cup ’19

Continental Conquest! – Sudirman Cup ’19

20 May 2019
Korea into Quarters – Sudirman Cup ’19

Korea into Quarters – Sudirman Cup ’19

20 May 2019
China Club Stint Powers Malkov – Sudirman Cup ’19

China Club Stint Powers Malkov – Sudirman Cup ’19

20 May 2019
Wake-Up Call for Japan – Sudirman Cup ’19

Wake-Up Call for Japan – Sudirman Cup ’19

20 May 2019
‘Greatest moment ever’ says Greenland – Sudirman Cup ’19

‘Greatest moment ever’ says Greenland – Sudirman Cup ’19

20 May 2019
China Brush Off Scare – Sudirman Cup ’19

China Brush Off Scare – Sudirman Cup ’19

19 May 2019
Iris Wang Unable to Resist Badminton’s Lure – Sudirman Cup ’19

Iris Wang Unable to Resist Badminton’s Lure – Sudirman Cup ’19

19 May 2019
Thrilling Win for Canada – Sudirman Cup ’19

Thrilling Win for Canada – Sudirman Cup ’19

19 May 2019
Learning Curve for Nepal – Sudirman Cup ’19

Learning Curve for Nepal – Sudirman Cup ’19

19 May 2019
Mixed Doubles at Sudirman Cup – A Form Guide

Mixed Doubles at Sudirman Cup – A Form Guide

19 May 2019
Speaking Their Minds – Sudirman Cup ’19

Speaking Their Minds – Sudirman Cup ’19

18 May 2019
Women’s Singles at Sudirman Cup – A Form Guide

Women’s Singles at Sudirman Cup – A Form Guide

18 May 2019
Denmark in Transition Phase – Sudirman Cup ’19

Denmark in Transition Phase – Sudirman Cup ’19

18 May 2019
Indonesia Hold the Aces in Group 1B

Indonesia Hold the Aces in Group 1B

17 May 2019
Final Preparations on Sudirman Cup Eve

Final Preparations on Sudirman Cup Eve

16 May 2019
India-Malaysia Duel Likely to Decide Group 1D

India-Malaysia Duel Likely to Decide Group 1D

15 May 2019
A Twist in the Tale – Sudirman Cup in the 2010s

A Twist in the Tale – Sudirman Cup in the 2010s

15 May 2019
Men’s Singles at Sudirman Cup – A Form Guide

Men’s Singles at Sudirman Cup – A Form Guide

14 May 2019
Spotlight On Canada-Germany Clash

Spotlight On Canada-Germany Clash

11 May 2019
Women’s Doubles at Sudirman Cup – A Form Guide

Women’s Doubles at Sudirman Cup – A Form Guide

10 May 2019
Tight Contest Expected between Netherlands, France

Tight Contest Expected between Netherlands, France

9 May 2019
Sung’s Pullout a Setback for Korea in Group 1C

Sung’s Pullout a Setback for Korea in Group 1C

8 May 2019
The Clash of Powerhouses – Sudirman Cup in the 90s

The Clash of Powerhouses – Sudirman Cup in the 90s

7 May 2019
Glory on Home Soil – Sudirman Cup ’89

Glory on Home Soil – Sudirman Cup ’89

3 May 2019
Men’s Doubles at Sudirman Cup – A Form Guide

Men’s Doubles at Sudirman Cup – A Form Guide

2 May 2019
Spotlight on Japan, China – Sudirman Cup ’19

Spotlight on Japan, China – Sudirman Cup ’19

30 April 2019
Chinese Taipei Can Go Far – Sudirman Cup ’19

Chinese Taipei Can Go Far – Sudirman Cup ’19

27 April 2019
Everybody Wants to Beat Japan, Says Okuhara

Everybody Wants to Beat Japan, Says Okuhara

26 April 2019
Title Triumph Not Far Away, Says Nehwal

Title Triumph Not Far Away, Says Nehwal

25 April 2019
Loh Looks Forward to Team Challenge

Loh Looks Forward to Team Challenge

24 April 2019
‘Team Spirit and Self-Belief are Important’: Wong Choong Hann

‘Team Spirit and Self-Belief are Important’: Wong Choong Hann

23 April 2019
China’s Trump Cards – Zheng & Huang

China’s Trump Cards – Zheng & Huang

22 April 2019
Intanon Optimistic About Thailand’s Chances

Intanon Optimistic About Thailand’s Chances

21 April 2019
Kidambi Keen to Lead India to Team Glory

Kidambi Keen to Lead India to Team Glory

20 April 2019
Month-Long Countdown Begins for Sudirman Cup

Month-Long Countdown Begins for Sudirman Cup

19 April 2019
‘Looking to Convert Pressure into Motivation’: Zhang Jun

‘Looking to Convert Pressure into Motivation’: Zhang Jun

19 April 2019
Setback for Korea’s Sudirman Cup Preparations

Setback for Korea’s Sudirman Cup Preparations

25 March 2019

Early Test for Hosts China: Sudirman Cup Draw

19 March 2019
Japan Get Top Billing – Sudirman Cup

Japan Get Top Billing – Sudirman Cup

11 March 2019
Hosts Ready as Sudirman Cup Countdown Begins

Hosts Ready as Sudirman Cup Countdown Begins

20 February 2019
Sudirman Cup Attracts 32 Entries

Sudirman Cup Attracts 32 Entries

18 February 2019
GoDaddy Extends Major Events Partnership with BWF

GoDaddy Extends Major Events Partnership with BWF

11 February 2019
Sudirman Cup the Final Frontier for Park

Sudirman Cup the Final Frontier for Park

25 January 2019
PARTNERS