By Srijita Chakraborty
Devika Sihag’s breakthrough at the Thailand Masters felt less like a routine title win and more like the opening chapter of something long overdue in Indian badminton.
The 20-year-old left the court of competition in a state of shock as she claimed her first-ever BWF World Tour title by taking home the Super 300 trophy without having to play a single game all week long. Starting the week as the 63rd-ranked player, Sihag beat three seeded players in a manner that was difficult to believe, given her inexperience at this level, to give India its first international title of the 2026 season.
It is even more remarkable in the context. Only Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu had won a Super 300 title for India before Sihag. She has joined this elite list in her first-ever final at this level.
Soft-spoken off court, Sihag played with bold intent on it. The tall, aggressive and fearless striker displayed remarkable poise under pressure, especially in the semifinals, where she held off five game points to take the first game against Taiwan’s Huang Yu-Hsun. Earlier, she had shocked the Thai crowd by beating the top seed Supanida Katethong.
The final was abruptly interrupted when Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei retired hurt, but Sihag had already shown her superiority.Typical of her temperament, she didn’t go into wild celebrations, checking on her opponent before the presentation, a small act that said a lot.
Training alongside Sindhu at Bengaluru’s Centre for Badminton Excellence, and now with Indonesian coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, Sihag seems to be growing up fast. Her coaches have noted her increasing patience and mental toughness, as much as her strokes. Aijan for a Challenger event, chasing points, not praise. But with a jump into the top 40 looming, Indian badminton may finally be looking at its next genuine contender.