Devika Sihag has emerged victorious at the Thailand Masters 2026, securing the women's singles title and etching her name in Indian badminton history as the first Indian shuttler to clinch a title in 2026. The 20-year-old capped off aSuper 300 tournament at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok on Sunday.
Sihag's journey to the title was marked by dominant performances throughout the tournament. Displaying remarkable skill and determination, she won all five of her matches in straight games, a testament to her consistent form and strategic prowess. En route to the final, Sihag demonstrated her giant-slaying capabilities by defeating seeded players, including a former top-10 player and home favorite, Supanida Katethong, in the quarterfinal.
In the finalmatch, Devika was leading against Malaysia's Goh Jin Wei, a former junior world champion, when Goh was forced to retire due to injury. At the time of retirement, the score was 21-8, 6-3 in favor of Sihag. Sihag's aggressive play and dominance in the first game, where she allowed her opponent only 8 points, set the tone for the match.
This victory marks a significant milestone in Devika Sihag's career, as it is her first World Tour title and the first Super 300+ title for India in the women's singles category since PV Sindhu's win at the Syed Modi International in 2024. Sihag now joins Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu as the only three Indian women to win a BWF Super 300+ singles title.
Sihag's success can be attributed to her improved patience and never-give-up attitude. According to her, she just wanted to give her 100% without thinking about winning or losing, which boosted her confidence. Her physical attributes also play a role, as her height of 172 cm allows her to generate depth in her smashes and deception from both the front and rear court.
Devika's father enrolled her in badminton at a young age, but she only started appreciating the sport after achieving success at the state level. Her mother played a crucial role in persuading her father to allow her to move to Bengaluru to further her training. This win at the Thailand Masters is a testament to her hard work, perseverance, and the support she has received from her family and coaches.
Prior to this victory, Sihag's best performance was a final appearance at the Indonesia Masters II (Super 100) in October of the previous year. Her recent performance at the Thailand Masters saw her beat Ashmita Chaliha, Tung Ciou-Tong, and Huang Yu-Hsun. Her current world ranking is 63. Goh Jin Wei was seeded 68 before the final match.