Indian badminton sensation Satwiksairaj Rankireddy now holds the record for the fastest smash by a male badminton player, clocking at 565 km/h. This achievement, confirmed by Guinness World Records judges, was set on April 14, 2023. The 23-year-old athlete recently posted an emotional video capturing his father's reaction while opening his Guinness World Record certificate.
In the 54-second clip shared on X (formerly Twitter), his father eagerly unwraps the parcel with scissors, revealing the prestigious certificate. The pride on his face is unmistakable as he admires the award, later posing with it. Satwiksairaj also joins his father for some pictures, emphasising the sentiment behind the accomplishment.
Along with the post, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy wrote, “"As my shuttle soared at 565 kmph, I realized the true speed of a father's pride – an unbreakable record in my heart." #GuinnessWorldRecord"
The post has garnered over 82,500 views and 2,000 likes since its sharing. The Indian account representing the International Olympic Committee- Olympic Khel, reacted to the post, stating, "Guinness World Record! Dad’s love! What a champ!"
The official Olympic Games account commented, "Congratulations! That smile has us smiling too"
In the China Masters 2023 final held on November 26, India's top men's doubles duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, faced a tough match against second-seeded Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang from China. The intense match concluded with a 19-21, 21-18, 21-19 victory for the Chinese pair, securing the first men's doubles title for China in the China Masters in eight years.
Despite trailing 1-8 in the decisive game, the Indian pair showcased remarkable resilience, fighting back to save six championship points from 13-20 to narrow the score to 19-20. However, Liang and Wang managed to regain their composure just in time to secure the win.
This win served as redemption for Liang and Wang, as they avenged their previous loss to the Indian duo at the Asian Games.