<p>New Delhi: Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya presented the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award to badminton stars Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy here on Thursday, completing a long-pending felicitation of the celebrated duo.</p>.<p>Chirag and Satwik were named for the honour last year but could not attend the glittering ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan owing to their playing commitments.</p>.<p>They were due to receive the award from Mandaviya in February but that too had to be postponed after Satwik's father R Kasi Viswanatham died of cardiac arrest on the day of the brief ceremony for which he was scheduled to travel.</p>.Indian boxers add 4 more gold medals, finish 2nd in Asian Under-15 & Under-17 Championships.<p>"Felicitated and presented the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023 to our badminton champions, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, in New Delhi today," Mandaviya posted on X along with pictures of the felicitation held at the Sports Authority of India headquarters here.</p>.<p>"This award is a testament to their dedication and exceptional performances on the court. I wish them the very best in their future endeavours," he said.</p>.<p>Satwik and Chirag Shetty have been trailblazers in Indian badminton.</p>.<p>The duo won a gold at the 2022 Asian and Commonwealth Games, and the 2023 Asian Championships. The duo is the only Indian doubles pair to hold the No. 1 spot in the BWF World Rankings and win a BWF World Tour Super 1000 title.</p>.<p>In 2023, Satwik also set a Guinness World Record for the fastest badminton smash by a male player, reaching a speed of 565 km/h.</p>.<p>He had shared a heartwarming video on social media featuring his father unwrapping his Guinness World Record certificate.</p>.<p>"As my shuttle soared at 565 kmph, I realized the true speed of a father's pride – an unbreakable record in my heart," he had posted at that time in a tribute to his father's contribution in his growth. </p>
<p>New Delhi: Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya presented the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award to badminton stars Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy here on Thursday, completing a long-pending felicitation of the celebrated duo.</p>.<p>Chirag and Satwik were named for the honour last year but could not attend the glittering ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan owing to their playing commitments.</p>.<p>They were due to receive the award from Mandaviya in February but that too had to be postponed after Satwik's father R Kasi Viswanatham died of cardiac arrest on the day of the brief ceremony for which he was scheduled to travel.</p>.Indian boxers add 4 more gold medals, finish 2nd in Asian Under-15 & Under-17 Championships.<p>"Felicitated and presented the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023 to our badminton champions, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, in New Delhi today," Mandaviya posted on X along with pictures of the felicitation held at the Sports Authority of India headquarters here.</p>.<p>"This award is a testament to their dedication and exceptional performances on the court. I wish them the very best in their future endeavours," he said.</p>.<p>Satwik and Chirag Shetty have been trailblazers in Indian badminton.</p>.<p>The duo won a gold at the 2022 Asian and Commonwealth Games, and the 2023 Asian Championships. The duo is the only Indian doubles pair to hold the No. 1 spot in the BWF World Rankings and win a BWF World Tour Super 1000 title.</p>.<p>In 2023, Satwik also set a Guinness World Record for the fastest badminton smash by a male player, reaching a speed of 565 km/h.</p>.<p>He had shared a heartwarming video on social media featuring his father unwrapping his Guinness World Record certificate.</p>.<p>"As my shuttle soared at 565 kmph, I realized the true speed of a father's pride – an unbreakable record in my heart," he had posted at that time in a tribute to his father's contribution in his growth. </p>