New Delhi [India], May 8 (ANI): Star Indian doubles badminton player Satwiksairaj Rankireddy on Friday cleared the air over his statements on lack of reception for Team India's Thomas Cup bronze medal win, saying that his remarks 'did not come from a place of wanting personal fame or taking credit away from other's achievements', but his message is to 'foster a culture that encourages and celebrates every win, big or small'.

France defeated India 3-0 to reach the finals of the Thomas Cup 2026, in Horsens, Denmark, on Saturday. For India, the dream of reclaiming the title they won in 2022 ended in the semifinals, leaving them with a bronze medal for the 2026 edition. Following the event, when the Indian squad returned home, they did not receive a massive reception from fans. On his Instagram story, Satwiksairaj had written, 'Back home now. As usual, no one knows what happened over the past two weeks, and it seems like no one really cares.' This story was reshared by his doubles partner, Chirag Shetty.

During a presser later on, Chirag said that India is 'not a sporting nation as of yet and does not celebrate its athletes the way they should'. He also pointed out the lack of recognition and awareness among fans about the magnitude of India's Thomas Cup way back in 2022. These remarks did not go down well with some sections of Indian sports fans and the athletes faced some trolling.

Now, Satwiksairaj has given a statement on his remarks, saying that 'people are deviating from the original point.'

'The last few days have brought a lot of attention to my recent comments regarding the lack of a reception for our Thomas Cup bronze medal. While I am grateful for the overwhelming support and encouragement, I want to clarify my intent because I see many people deviating from the original point,' he said.

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'My words did not come from a place of wanting personal fame or taking credit away from anyone else's achievements. I have the utmost respect for every athlete who brings glory to India, regardless of the sport. My message was simple: we need to foster a culture that encourages and celebrates every win, big or small. Whether it is a World Cup medal or a podium finish in a global championship like the Thomas Cup, these moments represent years of sacrifice and hard work,' he said.

Satwiksairaj said that when such achievements are met with silence, 'it feels disheartening not just for us, but for the future generations of Indian athletes who are watching.'

'We do not want money or grand parades; we just want to know that our country is watching and that our efforts are seen. Let us come together to support all sports with the same passion and 'angle.' Next time, let it not be about who won more or less, but about celebrating everyone who wears the India jersey. Thank you for standing by me. Let's keep playing for India,' he concluded.

India lost to France 0-3 in the Thomas Cup semifinals in Horsens, Denmark, as India's dream of reclaiming the title they won in 2022 ended, leaving them with a bronze medal for the 2026 edition. The semifinal match was heavily impacted before it even began, as Lakshya was ruled out due to an elbow injury sustained during his quarterfinal victory against Chinese Taipei. Without their spearhead, India struggled to match the intensity of the French side, eventually going down 0-3. (ANI)