Paris Olympics: India's Satwik-Chirag gets favourable draw in Paris

India`s Chirag Shetty (R) and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (L) hold the trophy during the medals ceremony at Thailand Open (Pic: AFP)

Star Indian shuttlers Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have received a favourable draw for the Paris Olympics beginning July 26.

Satwik, 23, and Chirag, 27, who claimed the Thomas Cup gold and Commonwealth Games gold in 2022, have been seeded third.

The former world number one pair, considered one of the favourites for the gold medal, has been clubbed in group C where Indonesia's world number six combination of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto will be their toughest opponent.

Satwik and Chirag, who also won the 2023 Asia Championships title before securing the French Open Super 750 and Thailand Open Super 500 titles besides reaching two more finals in 2024, also will have to compete with world No. 31 German combination of Mark Lamsfuss and Marvin Seidel and world No. 43 Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar of France in the group.

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The men's doubles draw was postponed on Friday due to a Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) hearing over the number of pairs in the draw.

The sport's World governing body had to postpone the draw after CAS ordered BWF to recommend to the International Olympic Committee that Corvée-Labar be included in the Olympic Games.

The inclusion of the French pair made it a revised 17-pair men's doubles draw, instead of the 16 pairs that originally qualified.

Meanwhile, over recent years, India's participation in the Summer Games has consistently grown. At the Tokyo Olympics, India fielded its largest-ever contingent of 124 athletes, securing a remarkable seven medals - the nation's highest tally in a single edition of the Summer Games.

According to Olympics.com, as of Sunday, 82 athletes have already qualified for the Paris 2024 edition, with expectations high that more will join before the event kicks off on July 26.

(With inputs from agencies)