With just a few days left for the BWF World Championships 2026, India’s men’s doubles coach Tan Kim Her on Tuesday gave an important update on Satwiksairaj Rankireddy’s shoulder injury, which has been recurring for a while and has forced the pair out of World Tour competitions.
While Kim backed the men’s doubles duo for excelling in the upcoming World Championships, he did not shy away from the fact that the biggest concern ahead of the BWF World Championships remains the injured shoulder.
The Asian Games gold medallists, who returned to winning ways with the Singapore Open Super 750 title in June, have received a first-round bye as one of the seeded combinations. During a press conference after the draw ceremony of the BWF World Championships 2026, responded to the question from myKhel about the injury and said, “His shoulder is almost recovered. He went under rehabilitation for the injury, which has helped him recover from the injury.”
However, the Malaysian coach admitted that Satwik’s shoulder, which has troubled him since suffering a tear several years ago, continues to be a worry. “Last year they had 8 semifinals and 2 finals. I think the results were quite consistent. And this year, Singapore has been the best tournament. Game-wise, they are getting better now. Confidence? Okay. But what’s bothering them is the injury. That’s what’s bothering me and them also.
“So this one, especially for Satwik. His shoulder… he already had the tear. So it’s on and off. So hopefully this time he can overcome. This is my concern. Other than that, both of them are very committed, very disciplined. But with the injury there, we cannot do anything.”
Getting Back To Rhythm A Challenge- Kim Tan Her
Tan also highlighted that Satwik’s time away from competition could make regaining match rhythm one of the biggest challenges. He noted that the pair had gained significant confidence after winning the Singapore Open, but another break meant they would now have to rebuild that momentum.
“After Satwik-Chirag won the Singapore Open, the confidence was very good. But after that, they had a break again. So the preparation now is good, but the important part is the confidence. Mentally, he has been out for almost one month plus. So whether he can get the rhythm back, that’s very important,” Tan said.
Despite the concern, the coach remains confident in the Indian duo’s ability to challenge the best in the world, provided they maintain the right mindset. For Tan, self-belief and mental preparation will be crucial to their success.
Satwik-Chirag Form: Peak At Big Tournaments
The 54-year-old Malaysian coach said he has repeatedly urged Satwik and Chirag not to focus on winning every tournament, but instead to time their form for the biggest competitions. With the World Championships followed by the Asian Games, where the Indian pair will look to defend their title, Tan stressed that managing pressure will be key.
“This is part of life. As an athlete, you have to face. Mentally, you need to stay strong. Just try to pick and focus more on this major tournament, this World Championship, and this Asian Games,” Tan said.
He also advised the duo to block out the weight of expectations and concentrate on each match individually rather than thinking too far ahead. “Sometimes you’re under pressure. It’s something like, you go, you have to win, you have to win. So I told them, stay one match at a time. Expectation is high,” he said.
Reflecting on the pressure surrounding the pair during the Olympics, Tan said expectations can sometimes become an added burden for athletes. “During Olympic time, everyone expected them to win a medal. The expectation was too high. It’s how you manage, it’s how you handle yourself,” he added.
BWF World Championship 2026: Tan Gives Advantage To Satwik-Chirag
Tan also spoke about the growing competitiveness in men’s doubles, saying the speed of the game has made it increasingly difficult for players to maintain consistency across the season. He identified South Korea’s Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae as the most consistent pair at present, while also putting Satwik and Chirag in that category because they play a relatively smaller number of tournaments.
“Only the Korean pair (Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae) has been very consistent. Satwik-Chirag are also among the more consistent pairs because they play fewer tournaments. Others are playing 18-19 tournaments, and it’s very difficult.” According to Tan, the service and return of serve have become decisive elements in modern men’s doubles because of the sheer pace of the discipline.
“It’s a very fast game. Service and receiving service are very important. If your service is good, you can say 60 per cent of your game is already there. If your service is not good, then you’re gone,” said Tan, who previously worked as men’s doubles coach with the Japanese national team and guided Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi to the 2021 world title.
Comparing Satwik and Chirag with the reigning world champions from South Korea, Tan said the Indians have an advantage in attack but still have room to improve defensively.
“Attack-wise we are good. Service and receiving are also quite okay. But defensively, the Koreans are much better. In Singapore, we controlled the game and attacked more, so we had a good chance to win.”