Paris: Indian badminton star Satwiksairaj Rankireddy had a great experience in Paris as he met legendary Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal at the Olympics Village ahead of the 2024 Olympics. Satwiksairaj expressed his excitement by sharing a photo with Nadal on his Instagram story, describing it as a moment posing "with the best".

The Indian contingent is gearing up for the Paris Olympics, set to commence on July 26th, with 117 athletes competing across 16 sports. India aims to surpass its previous record of seven medals from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which included a gold, two silver, and four bronze medals.

Satwiksairaj, paired with his men's doubles partner Chirag Shetty, stands out as strong contenders for a medal this year. Known as 'Sat-Chi', the duo has secured two prestigious Badminton World Federation (BWF) Tour titles recently: the French Open in March 2024 and the Thailand Open in May 2024. Additionally, they finished as runners-up in both the Malaysian Open and India Open tournaments.

Their achievements are substantial, including a peak number one ranking in men's doubles, several BWF Tour titles, a bronze medal in the World Championships men's doubles in 2022, and gold in the men's doubles competition at the Commonwealth Games 2022. They also clinched gold and silver medals respectively in mixed team events at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

On the tennis front, Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, is preparing for the Paris Olympics alongside his new partner, Carlos Alcaraz, the recent Wimbledon champion. This formidable duo, with a total of 15 French Open titles between them, is expected to make a significant impact in the men's doubles category on the clay courts of Paris.

Nadal, vocal about his commitment to representing Spain in the Paris Olympics, views this event as particularly significant in what could be his final year on the ATP tour. Despite a recent loss in the Nordea Open final, Nadal remains determined to shine in the upcoming Olympics, underscoring his unwavering dedication to competition.

As India anticipates a successful campaign in Paris, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty emerge as pivotal figures in their quest for Olympic glory, bolstered by their impressive track record and recent tournament successes. With their eyes set on the podium, the duo embodies India's ambitions for a memorable performance at the 2024 Olympics. ANI