Mathias Boe touch for Indian duo Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy

Having refreshed themselves with a week’s break at home after the mentally exhausting three-week bio-bubble in Bangkok in January, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy re-joined training in Hyderabad to prepare for the European circuit, which commences with their Swiss Open first round in Basel on Wednesday. Only this time, when they returned to the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, the world No.10 men’s doubles pair was greeted by a new member of the coaching staff - former world No.1 Mathias Boe. “I requested TOPS, Sports Authority of India, Badminton Association of India and Gopichand sir and they took it forward from there,” said Shetty, who has known Boe since 2014 and has also partnered him in the Premier Badminton League. Whenever I used to practice with him and leave for tournaments I ended up playing really well.” Boe joined the academy on February 5 and immediately got into his role, making Shetty and Rankireddy put in five hours of training daily - three in the morning and two in the evening - to continue the momentum they gained by reaching the semi-finals of the Thailand Open in January - their maiden entry into the last-4 of an elite Super 1000 tournament.