Devika Sihag: How a Tall Teen from Haryana is Rewriting India’s Women’s Singles Future

When Devika Sihag walked onto the court at the Thailand Masters in early 2026, she wasn’t carrying the reputation of a superstar. She was carrying something far more dangerous momentum.

Within a week, she would leave Bangkok having dismantled top-20 opponents, forced her way into a Super 300 title, and signalled that Indian women’s singles had found its next frontline contender.

Her rise has not been accidental. It is the result of a carefully layered journey from Panchkula’s Tau Devi Lal Stadium to national titles, European tours, elite academies, and finally, the global BWF World Tour.

Haryana’s quiet powerhouse

Devika was born on April 18, 2005, in Haryana, a state better known for producing wrestlers and boxers than badminton players. She began playing badminton at the age of 10 at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula, initially as a hobby. Coaches quickly noticed that she was physically different from most players her age tall, rangy, and able to generate steep angles even without advanced technique.

Those physical tools became the foundation of what is now her signature playing style: a tall attacker who takes the shuttle early, hits steeply, and controls the back court with reach.

Unlike many elite athletes, Devika did not sacrifice academics. She studied at Bhavan Vidyalaya in Chandigarh and later enrolled for a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Chitkara University, where she continues her studies alongside her badminton career. That balance has often reflected in her temperament on court calm, organised, and methodical under pressure.

The defining moment in Devika’s development came in 2021, when she moved to the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA) in Bengaluru. That shift transformed her from a state-level prospect into a full-time high-performance athlete.

Under coaches Vimal Kumar, Sagar Chopda and Indonesian specialist Irwansyah, her raw physical tools were shaped into a structured attacking game. Training alongside players like Isharani Baruah, who rely on speed and defence, forced Devika to sharpen her shot selection, movement patterns, and rally construction.

Her game became more complete not just powerful, but purposeful.

2024: The year she became India’s champion

Devika’s breakthrough year came in 2024.

On the international circuit, she swept through the European International Series. She won the Swedish Open, followed it with the Portugal International, and reached finals at both the Estonian and Dutch Internationals. These were not token podiums she beat players ranked above her, adapting to slow halls, fast courts, and varied playing styles.

Then came the moment that changed how India saw her.

At the Senior National Championships in Bengaluru, Devika didn’t just participate she dominated. In the final, she beat Shriyanshi Valishetty 21-15, 21-16 to become India’s national champion. On fast courts, her attacking style was devastating, and the title marked her arrival as a genuine force in Indian women’s singles.

2025: Learning the elite level

In 2025, Devika stepped up to stronger BWF events. She won the Malaysia International Challenge, beating Japanese World No. 36 Manami Suizu and former junior world No.1 Tasnim Mir. That title proved she could handle players with speed and defensive depth.

Later that year, she reached the final of the Indonesia Masters II (Super 100), where she defeated Lee So Yul in a 65-minute three-game battle before running into former world champion Nozomi Okuhara in the final. Okuhara exposed the gap between power and elite court craft a lesson that would prove vital.

Devika also represented India at the World University Games, helping the mixed team win a historic bronze medal. By the end of 2025, she was ranked around World No. 69 close enough to smell the top 50, but not quite there.

Thailand Masters 2026: Everything clicks

Then came Thailand.

Devika’s run at the Thailand Masters Super 300 was the moment when her entire journey converged. In the quarter-final, she faced Thailand’s top seed Supanida Katethong, World No.16. Devika won 21-19, 21-18, her first ever top-20 victory.

In the semi-final, she was 15-20 down against Huang Yu-Hsun. Five game points saved. Seven straight points. A 22-20 first game. A dominant 21-13 second. Her first Super 300 final followed by the Title.

That performance alone lifted her ranking into the world’s top 50 a critical gateway to higher-tier tournaments. It was no longer a surprise run. It was proof of readiness.

What makes Devika different

Devika’s biggest weapon is her physical profile. Her height gives her reach, steep attack angles, and the ability to dominate the rear court. But what separates her now is how she uses it. Earlier in her career, she could be impatient going for winners too early. Today, she constructs points. She waits. She moves opponents. Then she strikes.

Her biggest improvement has come in high-pressure situations. The Thailand Masters showed something new: composure. Saving five game points against Huang was not about power it was about nerve.

Devika’s growth has also been supported off the court. Haryana and the central government have rewarded her achievements through Khelo India and state grants, allowing her to train and travel without financial stress.

That backing matters. It allows players to chase rankings, not just survive tours.

At 20, Devika Sihag is no longer a prospect she is a contender. Her Super 300 final places her in the same competitive ecosystem as India’s elite. The next step is consistency: entering more Super 500 and Super 750 events, pushing toward the world’s top 32, and eventually becoming a seeded player. Indian women’s singles has been waiting for its next frontline star.

Devika is no longer knocking. She’s already inside.