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Former doubles specialist Boe to coach Indian duo ahead of Tokyo Games

Former doubles specialist Boe to coach Indian duo ahead of Tokyo Games

Indian doubles pair Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy have roped in Denmark's former Olympic silver medallist Mathias Boe as their new coach in the lead up to this year's Tokyo Games.

A former world number one in men's doubles, Boe won silver alongside Carsten Mogensen at the London Olympics in 2012, as well as the All-England Championships in 2011 and 2015. He retired last year.


"Badminton Association of India welcomes Olympic medallist Mathias Boe as coach for the Indian doubles team," the governing body's secretary Ajay Singhania said.

"...We believe Boe's valuable experience and understanding of the game will help our players with the much-needed guidance."

Rankireddy and Shetty are currently ninth in the Race to Tokyo rankings, with 16 teams set to make the cut for this year's Olympics, which are due to open on July 23 after being postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Shetty, 23, said Boe's appointment provides a huge psychological boost.

"He's aware of the kind of talent that exists in the top 10 and can help us better understand what needs to be done to go ahead," Shetty told the Olympic Channel.

"Moreover, Boe and Mogenson have a great record in closing out tight matches. He's someone who bossed his serve and the net game. And that's an area we need to work on."

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  • Coaching Inn Group scores 81 per cent customer satisfaction, beating Marriott and Hilton.
  • Wetherspoon Hotels named best value at £70 per night.
  • Britannia Hotels ranks bottom for 12th consecutive year with 44 per cent score.
A traditional pub hotel group has outperformed luxury international chains in the UK's largest guest satisfaction survey, while one major operator continues its decade-long streak at the bottom of the rankings.
The Coaching Inn Group, comprising 36 relaxed inn-style hotels in historic buildings across beauty spots and market towns, achieved the highest customer score of 81per cent among large chains in Which?'s annual hotel survey. The group earned five stars for customer service and accuracy of descriptions, with guests praising its "lovely locations and excellent food and service.
"The survey, conducted amongst 4,631 guests, asked respondents to rate their stays across eight categories including cleanliness, customer service, breakfast quality, bed comfort and value for money. At an average £128 per night, Coaching Inn demonstrated that mid-range pricing with consistent quality appeals to British travellers.
J D Wetherspoon Hotels claimed both the Which? Recommended Provider status (WRPs) and Great Value badge for the first time, offering rooms at just £70 per night while maintaining four-star ratings across most categories. Guests described their stays as "clean, comfortable and good value.
"Among boutique chains, Hotel Indigo scored 79 per cent with its neighbourhood-inspired design, while InterContinental achieved 80per cent despite charging over £300 per night, and the chain missed WRP status for this reason.

Budget brands decline

However, Premier Inn, long considered Britain's reliable budget choice, lost its recommended status this year. Despite maintaining comfortable beds, guests reported "standards were slipping" and prices "no longer budget levels" at an average £94 per night.

The survey's biggest disappointment remains Britannia Hotels, scoring just 44 per cent and one star for bedroom and bathroom quality. This marks twelve consecutive years at the bottom, with guests at properties like Folkestone's Grand Burstin calling it a total dive.

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