New Delhi: India’s leading badminton doubles pairs are heading into the 2026 Asian Games with a tactical approach that increasingly blurs traditional front- and back-court roles. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, have been developing greater positional flexibility, allowing players to switch responsibilities during rallies. Satwik and Treesa have become more comfortable operating at the net, while Chirag and Gayatri have shown greater effectiveness from the rear court.

The change is designed to make the Indian pairs less predictable and improve their attacking options against opponents who are accustomed to conventional doubles formations.

Satwik and Chirag enter the Games with considerable confidence after winning the China Masters Super 750 title. They defeated China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu in a three-game final, strengthening their preparations to defend the men’s doubles gold medal they won at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.

The pair’s success has also highlighted the importance of the opening exchanges, with deceptive and trick serves, sharp returns and control at the net playing a crucial role in winning the first three shots of rallies.

Treesa and Gayatri, meanwhile, will carry the confidence of their bronze-medal finish at the 2026 BWF World Championships. They are seeking to become India’s first women’s doubles pair to win an Asian Games medal.

Gayatri has also worked on spin serves with her brother Vishnu, adding another variation to her service game. With badminton part of India’s 503-member Asian Games contingent, the competition in Aichi-Nagoya will provide a major test of the pairs’ evolving tactical game.