Paris: Renowned Danish coach Mathias Boe announced on Saturday, August 3, that he is retiring from his coaching career.
This news follows shortly after his proteges, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were defeated in the men’s doubles badminton quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics.
Boe expressed his sentiments in a touching Instagram post, encouraging Satwik and Chirag to persist in their efforts and continue to make India proud on the world’s grandest sporting stages.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, last year’s Asian Games gold medalists, were among India’s top contenders for gold. Nevertheless, the world’s fifth-ranked duo was bested by the superior Malaysian team of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the quarterfinals with scores of 21-13, 14-21, 16-21, dashing India’s hopes of securing multiple badminton medals at the Olympics for the first time.
“My coaching journey concludes here. I will not continue in India or elsewhere, at least for now. I’ve devoted ample time in badminton courts, and coaching has been quite stressful; I feel like a weary old man,” stated Mathias Boe, an Olympic silver medalist from London, in his post.
Boe highlighted the intense preparation and dedication Satwik and Chirag demonstrated leading up to the Olympics and shared the disappointment they faced following their quarterfinal loss.
“The disappointment is familiar to me. Striving to your utmost every day to be in peak condition, only to see things not turn out as hoped. I understand your devastation. I realize the extent of your desire to win a medal for India, but it wasn’t to be this time.
“Yet, you should take pride in your commitment during this Olympic campaign, overcoming injuries and enduring injections to alleviate pain. That shows true dedication, passion, and tremendous heart. You’ve achieved so much in recent years, and there’s much more success ahead,” he continued.
Mathias Boe expressed his gratitude to the Badminton Association of India and the Sports Ministry for their consistent support. Known for making the red notebook a symbol of his coaching style, Boe collaborated with Satwik and Chirag during the Tokyo Olympics and later rejoined them in 2022. Under his guidance, Satwik and Chirag secured the historic Gold medal at the Asian Games last year.