Badminton Star Satwiksairaj Rankireddy Slated To Receive Khel Ratna Today; His Father Dies Of Heart Attack

Badminton star Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, who was slated to receive the Khel Ratna award in New Delhi today, was hit with a tragic incident of his father R Kasi Viswanatham's demise. According to the reports, Satwiksairaj's father died following a heart attack before attending the ceremony.

Satwik is now heading to Andhra Pradesh to be with his family during this difficult time.

Satwik's father was a retired physical education teacher. He had planned to travel to Delhi for the award ceremony but suffered a fatal heart attack. A source close to the family expressed sorrow over the loss, stating, "It is extremely sad and unfortunate that Satwik has lost his father this morning," as reported by PTI.

Achievements in Badminton

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy is renowned for his exceptional badminton skills. He partners with Chirag Shetty, forming a top-tier doubles team. Together, they have achieved significant victories at major events like the 2022 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. They are also the only Indian doubles pair to reach No.1 in BWF World Rankings and win a BWF World Tour Super 1000 title.

In addition to these accomplishments, Satwik set a Guinness World Record for the fastest badminton smash by a male player in 2023. His smash reached an incredible speed of 565 km/h. He shared a touching video of his father unwrapping the Guinness World Record certificate on social media.

A Heartfelt Tribute

Satwik's social media post reflected his deep bond with his father. He wrote on X: "As my shuttle soared at 565 kmph, I realized the true speed of a father's pride - an unbreakable record in my heart." This heartfelt message highlights the pride and connection he felt with his father.

The badminton community mourns alongside Satwik during this challenging period.