In a milestone moment for Indian badminton, 20-year-old Devika Sihag has emerged as the nation's latest sensation by clinching the Thailand Masters 2026 title. By hoisting the trophy in Bangkok, the world No. 63 becomes only the third Indian woman in history; following in the footsteps of legends PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, to win a BWF World Tour Super 300 event.
While the final ended early, Sihag’s path to the podium was anything but easy. The unseeded Haryana native, who moved to Bengaluru at age 12 to train, dismantled a gauntlet of seeded stars:
Quarter-finals: Stunned world No. 17 and top seed Supanida Katethong on her home turf.
Semi-finals: Pulled off a "phoenix-like" recovery from 15-20 down to defeat Taiwan’s Huang Yu-Hsun.
The "Sindhu connection": Sihag has been training as a sparring partner for PV Sindhu under coach Irwansyah, a partnership Sindhu praised on social media, noting Sihag's "incredible dedication."
At 172 cm (5’9”), Sihag possesses the stature that defined the careers of Sindhu and Saina. Her game is characterized by:
Deceptive depth: Using her height to generate steep smashes and back-court clears.
Mental fortitude: A newfound ability to close out matches in straight games, rectifying a previous habit of losing close three-setters.
Discipline: Known for a grueling work ethic, including 4 a.m. fitness sessions, which has helped her overcome persistent knee patella issues
