Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty Finally Get Their Khel Ratna; Hope For End To 'Difficult Phase' Soon

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya presented the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award to badminton stars Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy on Thursday, completing a long-pending felicitation that the celebrated duo feels would help it tied over the current "difficult phase" made worse by fitness issues. Chirag and Satwik were to receive the honour last year after being picked for the year 2023 but could not attend the glittering ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan owing to their playing commitments.

They were due to receive the award from Mandaviya in February this year but that too had to be postponed after Satwik's father R Kasi Viswanatham died of cardiac arrest on the day of the brief ceremony for which he was scheduled to travel.

"We couldn't go to the Rashtrapati Bhawan to receive the Khel Ratna award last year. Finally, to get it now is a huge boost for our confidence as we are going off-track and not playing for few months," Satwik said referring to the recent slump in form and the fitness setbacks that the two have been enduring.

"It motivates us to get back and do well in the upcoming tournaments," he added.

Mandaviya lauded the duo's "dedication and exceptional performances on the court." However, they have not been in the best form for the past one year with the underwhelming show in the All England Championship in March being a case in point. They pulled out of the ongoing Sudirman Cup due to health issues.

"It's quite tough, after Olympics so many things have happened. It's part of life but things will come back on track and it's just a bad phase. Chirag was injured for some days, I was sick for some days.

"We played All England but couldn't do well but it's just a matter of time, once we get back on