Satwik-Chirag’s ‘sweet revenge’ of Paris Olympics in BWF against the Malaysian pair on Friday
India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty assured themselves a medal at the BWF World Championships in Paris after beating Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Wooi Yik Soh in the quarterfinal. This will be the Indian pair’s second world championship medal, following a bronze in the 2022 edition. The quarterfinal win also helped Satwik-Chirag avenge their defeat to the same Malaysian pair in the 2024 Paris Olympics quarterfinals at the same venue. “It was a rematch of sorts from the Olympics and I think we finally got some redemption. It was the same court, same arena, a year back exactly. It’s always a pleasure playing against them. We’ve always had some really tough battles at the biggest of events and really happy we could win today,” said Chirag after the win. Satwik-Chirag outclassed their opponents in straight games, a margin which took even them by a little surprise. “In the second game, when we were leading, I was thinking for sure we would not win this easily. I was telling myself, ‘Don’t hurry for the point’. I had a belief that we were under control, no need to panic, because we only gave [away] a few points there. “They were under pressure, I sensed that. As I said before, we just want to play our A game and see where we’ll end up. That’s what we are doing from the first match. We are just focusing on ourselves, not on the opponents. We are really happy the way we played today,” added Satwik. Satwik and Chirag will now take on World No. 11 Li Yiu and Bo Yang Chen of China in their semifinal on Saturday.
Fijian Olympic medalist Raisuqe killed after car hit by train
Fijian wing Josaia Raisuqe, who won Olympic rugby sevens silver in Paris last year, has died after the 30-year-old’s car was hit by a train on Thursday, his Top 14 club Castres said. Raisuqe was on his way to training when the train collided with his car on a level crossing. None of the passengers nor the driver or conductor was injured, although they were suffering from shock, according to the firemen who attended the scene in southwest France. “Castres Olympique is grieving,” Raisuqe said in a statement. “He was a wonderful team-mate, appreciated by everyone, and Castres’ supporters who had taken him to their hearts.” Raisuqe had played seven times this season for Castres, his last appearance in the 52-6 thrashing by Toulouse on April 27. Raisuqe, who was fired by Stade Francais in 2017 for gross misconduct, was set to play for tier-two side Brive for the next two seasons. “He was a shining light of a boy on and off the pitch,” said Castres owner Pierre-Yves Revol. “He was a pillar of the Fijian community, which we have at the club (there are three other Fijians) and to whom we are very attached. “It is difficult also at this time not to evoke the faith of all the players and Josaia. “That, aside from the grief, will help them in this very difficult time for everyone.”
