After Satwik-Chirag, a host of badminton doubles pairings ready to step up in Olympic year
One of the rub-offs of the success of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in doubles is a bunch of younger-paired shuttlers starting to aim high. As soon as the possibility of an Olympic qualification was dangled in front of Tanisha Crasto, the formerly laidback 20-year-old got her act together. Her off-court habits – sleep and food-related – have wisened up. And she’s considerably calmer on court, helped by Ashwini Ponnappa’s composed presence.
The year’s final month has seen Tanisha enter the Top 25 in doubles rankings with Ashwini, and the rejigged pair of Tanisha and Dhruv Kapila win their first minor title in mixed, raising hopes of a strong headway in a category where Indians haven’t quite taken off since Jwala Gutta-V Diju left the scene a decade ago.
Tanisha had a blossomi...