When 20-year-old Devika Sihag stepped onto the court at Bangkok’s Nimibutr Stadium for the Thailand Masters Super 300 final, few could have predicted she was about to rewrite Indian badminton history. But that’s exactly what happened on February 1, 2026, when Devika became only the third Indian woman—after legends Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu—to win a BWF World Tour title at the Super 300 level or above.
Let that sink in for a moment. In over a decade of Indian women’s badminton dominance on the global stage, only three names have managed to claim titles at this elite level. And Devika, the lanky shuttler from Haryana, has just joined that impossibly exclusive club.
A Week That Dreams Are Made Of
Devika blazed through the entire tournament without dropping a single game. A feat that speaks volumes about her consistency and mental fortitude. But it wasn’t just that she won; it was how she won.
Her campaign was a top-seed-slaying spree. She defeated 8th seeded Ciou-Tong Tung, then stunned home favorite and top seed Supanida Katethong (world No. 16) in the quarterfinals, her first career win against a top-20 player. In the semifinals, she orchestrated what can only be described as a miracle: trailing 15-20 and staring at five game points against fifth-seeded Huang Yu-Hsun, Devika reeled off seven consecutive points to snatch the opening game 22-20.
That’s champion mentality right there. That’s what separates the good from the great.
The Saina-Sindhu Shadow
For years, the weight of Indian women’s singles rested almost entirely on the shoulders of PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal. It’s been a golden era, no doubt. Olympic medals, World Championship titles, countless Super Series & BWF victories. But it’s also been a lonely era.
Behind these two towering figures, Indian women’s badminton has been searching, hoping, praying for successors. Players like Malvika Bansod, Aakarshi Kashyap, Ashmita Chaliha, Anupama Upadhyaya, and Unnati Hooda have all shown flashes of brilliance. They’ve won medals at junior levels, claimed International Challenge titles, and steadily climbed the rankings.
But here’s the harsh truth: none of them have won a BWF World Tour Super 300 title or higher.
Malvika Bansod came close. She reached the Hylo Open Super 300 final in 2024 but lost to Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt. She also made it to the Syed Modi International final in 2022, only to fall to Sindhu herself. Aakarshi Kashyap has won BWF titles, but at the International Challenge level. Other talented teenagers knocking on the door are Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, and Anmol Kharb. All have impressive careers, but they are missing that crucial World Tour breakthrough.
Devika has now done what her talented contemporaries haven’t: she’s crossed that threshold.
What Makes This Victory Monumental
At world No. 63, Devika will now move into the Top 50, which opens doors to bigger tournaments and better seedings. But more importantly, she’s proven that Indian women’s badminton has depth beyond the Saina-Sindhu duopoly.
Devika trains at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (now the Centre for Badminton Excellence) in Bengaluru, alongside PV Sindhu herself. About six months ago, she started working with Sindhu’s Indonesian coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama. The coaching change has clearly paid dividends.
What’s remarkable about Devika’s game is her evolution. Known as a tall, attacking player with expansive strokes, she showed versatility, consistency, and patience throughout the tournament.
The Road Ahead
This is just the beginning for Devika. She won her first international title at the Malaysia International in August 2025 and contributed to India’s mixed team bronze at the 2025 World University Games. Her trajectory has been steady – 4 title clashes in 2024, winning at the Swedish Open and Portugal International, and now she’s made the leap to the World Tour level.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Winning one Super 300 doesn’t make you Saina or Sindhu. The real test will be consistency
- Can Devika back this up with more titles?
- Can she crack the top 20?
- Can she eventually threaten the top 10?
The talent is clearly there. Born April 18, 2005, she’s only 20 years old. She has time on her side, a supportive training ecosystem, and now, the confidence that comes from winning on the big stage.
A Breath of Fresh Air
For Indian badminton fans who’ve watched Sindhu struggle with form post-injury and witnessed Saina’s gradual fade (and recent retirement), Devika’s emergence is a breath of much-needed fresh air. She’s not a replacement; nobody can replace what Saina and Sindhu have achieved. But she represents hope. She represents continuity.
And most importantly, she represents proof that the pipeline is working. The entire bench of Top 15 Indian Singles Women are young, hungry and talented enough to carry the torch forward.
As one ESPN headline put it perfectly: “Devika Sihag. Remember the Name.”
We certainly will.
