It was an emotional night for Satwik on Wednesday as they won the first round, but their second match at the All England ended in a retirement after 16-21, 2-2 against Chinese Xie Hao Nan and Zeng Wei Han, as Chirag's back flared up, though it had been bothering him for a while. Written by Vinayakk Mohanarangan Updated: March 14, 2025 08:09 IST Newsguard clock_logo5 min read facebook twitter whatsapp Reddit Newsguard Satwik (L) reacts at the end of the first-round win at All England Open on Wednesday night. (BWF Badminton Photo)Satwik (L) reacts at the end of the first-round win at All England Open on Wednesday night. (BWF Badminton Photo) It might feel like the tough times keep hitting in waves. Injuries, lost finals, tricky opponents — Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty had been taking them on bravely all of last year. But a bereavement when Satwik’s father passed away, was terribly tragic and so sudden that badminton would’ve been the last thing on their minds. Like he always has, Satwik found Chirag by his side right away, as the Mumbaikar flew out to Amalapuram in the days after the funeral. And stayed put to check on his younger partner, who had shared a very close bond with his father Kasi Viswanatham. Their second match at the All England ended in a retirement after 16-21, 2-2 against Chinese Xie Hao Nan and Zeng Wei Han, as Chirag’s back flared up, though it had been bothering him for a while. Chirag said he played while wearing a brace. “I had some pain from yesterday’s match. I have been wearing a brace for the past week on my disc but it increased during yesterday’s first game actually. It was quite unbearable for me to move around,” Chirag was quoted as saying by PTI. Story continues below this ad Satwik said Chirag informed him about the back issue before Thursday’s game. “Tough times, I felt we are in a very comfortable position. Even he (Chirag) was trying from the first day but he didn’t tell me, so we he was playing with the pain.” STORIES YOU MAY LIKE All Pakistan players snubbed in The Hundred draft; James Anderson, Andrew Flintoff’s son too find no takers Shahid Afridi was the main person telling me to convert: Danish Kaneria Day after woman, her daughters were found dead in Delhi home, police suspect suicide owing to financial strains Late on Wednesday night, Satwik had put away a winner at the net against a tricky Danish pair Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard to win 21-17, 21-15. He had looked up with a pointed finger and clenched fist as commentator Gill Clark commiserated, “That look for Satwik, needs no words.” “It’s tough, but that’s how life is,” Satwik had told BWF after the match. “It wasn’t