BREAKING: Satwik-Chirag duo qualifies for the Quarterfinals of Paris Olympics Men Doubles event

Indian shuttlers Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have advanced to the quarterfinals in a dramatic turn of events at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. This development comes after their second group game against Germany's Mark Lamsfuss and Marvin Seidel was cancelled due to an unfortunate injury to Lamsfuss

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) announced on Monday that Lamsfuss had sustained a knee injury, which forced the German pair to withdraw from the competition. The statement from the BWF read, "German men’s doubles player Mark Lamsfuss has withdrawn from the Olympic Games Paris 2024 badminton competition due to a knee injury."

As a result, the matches involving the German duo in Group C, including those against India's Satwik-Chirag on Monday and France's Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar on Tuesday, were declared null and void. This unforeseen turn of events has had a significant impact on Group C's standings.

After Germany, France helps India’s journey!

The BWF's regulations stipulate that all results involving the German pair are to be deleted, effectively resetting the group stage outcomes. This reshuffling of the competition format has worked in favour of the Indian pair, who were set to face the former No. 1 Indonesian team of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto in a crucial match on Tuesday.

While the match against the Indonesian pair remains critical for maintaining momentum and morale, the withdrawal of Lamsfuss and Seidel, coupled with the French pair's loss to the Indonesians, has ensured Satwik-Chirag's passage to the quarterfinals. The Indian contingent is buoyed by this development, as the duo of Rankireddy and Shetty have shown consistent promise and resilience throughout the tournament.

Rankireddy and Shetty, who have steadily climbed the ranks in international badminton, now have a golden opportunity to make a significant mark at the Olympics. Their advancement to the quarterfinals not only boosts their confidence but also enhances India's prospects in the badminton competition.