Paris 2024: Scratchy start, but Satwik Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty get the job done

Tokyo taught Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty that well begun, was exactly and only half done. India’s doubles medal contenders had defeated the eventual Olympic champions, but hadn’t managed to see it through to knockouts three years ago.

On Saturday at Paris’ Porte de La Chapelle, the duo weren’t all guns blazing against French pair Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar, with errors, defensive jitters and even a sighting issue on one point, making it a scratchy start. But they did enough to wrap it up 21-17, 21-14 for a winning beginning in their group C.

It was the sort of start that will keep Mathias Boe scribbling furiously in his notebook, a snappy instruction on his lips, and the two men on their toes.

Satwik’s fitness had been a concern in the lead-up, but he bounced high and hit steep from the back. He was particularly adroit at the net from his backhand, and just the sight of him attacking the shuttle at the net with a proactive lunge is a positive sign.

The duo have this effortless quality to snap out of lulls, and pull away when opponents threaten to close gaps. Chirag was serving well to control the first three shots, and even sent out a drive serve that bamboozled the Frenchmen. But it sufficed that the Indian third seeds reacted with a spring in their heels to 12-10 in the second set and picked five points at will.

Sen debuts in style

Lakshya Sen playing at his first Olympics took on Tokyo surprise semifinalist, the much older Kevin Cordon of Guatemala. Placed in Group L with an extra match to play, Sen needed to begin without stutters, and he was off to a blinder leading 11-3 in his 21-8, 22-20 win.

Research will prove inadequate to establish why Sen suddenly takes his feet off the pedal, and knots himself into a tangle when he’s comfortably placed. So Cordon was allowed to go up to 20-16 ahead in the second, before Sen had had enough, and picked the next six points at will. It’s the sort of finishing kick that will stand him in good stead in the coming days.

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In the same stacked group, Sen’s biggest threat, Indonesian Jonatan Christie hiccupped before putting it past Julien Carraggi 18-21, 21-11, 21-16. More than fixating on what this reflects on Christie’s form, Sen would do well to not allow the Italian to grow any semblance of confidence on Monday when they meet. Least fancied in this group, Carraggi won’t go down without a fight.

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