Patumwan, Thailand – In a stunning display of skill and determination, India's Devika Sihag has advanced to the women's singles final of the Thailand Masters 2026, marking her first-ever BWF World Tour summit clash. The unseeded 20-year-old badminton player, currently ranked 63rd in the world, continued her giant-killing spree by defeating world No. 35 Huang Yu-Hsun of Chinese Taipei in the semi-finals with a score of 22-20, 21-13.
Sihag's path to the final has been nothing short of extraordinary. In the earlier rounds of the BWF Super 300 tournament, she overcame senior compatriot Ashmita Chaliha in the opening round and then eliminated world No. 42 Tung Ciou-Tong of Chinese Taipei in the pre-quarters. Her most significant victory came in the quarter-finals, where she defeated world No. 16 and top seed Supanida Katethong of Thailand.
The semi-final match against Huang Yu-Hsun was a hard-fought battle. Sihag demonstrated resilience, matching her fifth-seeded opponent point-for-point. In the opening game, Sihag faced a daunting deficit, trailing 15-20, but she mounted a remarkable comeback, displaying composure and tactical prowess. She reeled off seven consecutive points, capitalizing on unforced errors from Huang, to snatch the first game 22-20.
The momentum shifted decisively in Sihag's favor after that. The Indian shuttler dominated the second game, building an 11-5 lead at the mid-game interval. With a combination of tight defense and powerful smashes, Sihag sealed the match, winning the second game 21-13. The match lasted a total of 38 minutes.
Prior to facing Huang, Sihag emphasized the importance of strong defense and effective attacking. She executed her game plan effectively, maintaining pressure on her higher-ranked opponent.
Devika Sihag, who hails from Haryana, has been making waves in the badminton world. She secured her maiden BWF International Challenge title at the Malaysia International last year. Although she finished runner-up at the second Indonesia Masters 2025, a BWF Super 100 tournament, this Thailand Masters final marks her first major final on the BWF World Tour. She had previously won the Swedish Open and Portugal International in 2024.
Sihag's remarkable run at the Thailand Masters 2026 places her among an elite group of Indian women's singles players, including Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Malvika Bansod and Tanvi Sharma, who have reached the final of a Super Series event.
In the final, Devika Sihag will face Malaysia's Goh Jin Wei.
