[Saba Sports News] Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, India’s top men’s doubles player who just claimed a bronze medal at the 2026 Thomas Cup, received a cold reception upon returning to India. In social media posts and interviews, he said the team arrived at Hyderabad Airport in national team attire after competing in Denmark, yet no one recognized them or greeted them throughout their arrival. He bluntly stated that nobody cared about them at all, forcing all team members to take taxis and leave quietly on their own. Rankireddy expressed that it broke his heart to see that India was still not a true sporting nation. He added that he would never let his children take up badminton, as the public only focuses on cricket and celebrity gossip.
His partner Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty also voiced disappointment with Indian sports. He revealed that though he had met the Prime Minister and received numerous awards, there was no public recognition awaiting him at the airport. Shetty pointed out that cricket dominates all public attention in India, leaving achievements in other sports unapplauded.
During the 2025 season, hampered by prolonged injuries and the grief of losing his father, the Rankireddy-Shetty pair once dropped to 27th in the world rankings. However, by reaching the semi-finals in a string of subsequent tour events, they eventually climbed back into the world’s top five.
It is believed that Rankireddy’s disappointment is more than just an outburst of personal emotion; it is also a pointed criticism of India’s unbalanced sports culture. His remarks lay bare a underlying issue: when athletes’ hard work fails to gain recognition in their homeland, the inheritance of sportsmanship will face a crisis. This phenomenon is not unique to badminton but applies to all non-cricket sports in India.