India’s rising badminton star Devika Sihag etched her name into the record books on Sunday by becoming only the third Indian woman to win a World Tour Super 300 women’s singles title. The 20-year-old achieved the milestone with a title triumph at the USD 250,000 Thailand Masters in Bangkok.
Unseeded and fearless, Devika was firmly in control of the final against Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei before the match ended prematurely. The Indian was leading 21-8, 6-3 when Goh was forced to retire due to injury, sealing Devika’s maiden Super 300 crown and her biggest career title to date.
With the victory, Devika joined Indian badminton greats P. V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal as the only players from the country to lift a Super 300 women’s singles title, underlining the significance of her breakthrough.
Sindhu was quick to praise the youngster, highlighting her dedication and steady rise. “I always get super excited when my training partners do well. Devika trains with me and Coach Irwansyah in Bangalore, and her dedication has been incredible to witness up close,” Sindhu wrote on X. “She’s worked very closely with my team on strength and conditioning, and I’ve personally seen her game grow, mature, and evolve step-by-step. This win is a reflection of the discipline, hard work, and belief she has shown every single day. So proud of her.”
The final itself was a tale of contrasting fortunes. While Devika looked sharp and energetic, Goh appeared physically drained after enduring four long three-game matches en route to the title clash. The Malaysian, who has struggled with form and fitness over the past two years, was visibly uncomfortable, particularly with her left leg, and found movement increasingly difficult.
Devika capitalised with smart shot selection, mixing cross-court and straight smashes with deceptive drops from the same action. She raced to a 9-2 lead, stretched it to 11-4 at the interval, and closed the opening game with authority. After the change of ends in the second game, Devika moved to a 6-3 lead before Goh decided to retire.
The title caps a steady and consistent rise for the young Indian. Devika claimed her maiden international crown at the Malaysia International in August 2025 and later contributed to India’s mixed team bronze at the 2025 World University Games. Her progress continued last season with a runner-up finish at the Indonesia Masters Super 100 and four title appearances in 2024, including wins at the Swedish Open and Portugal International.
The Thailand Masters triumph now marks her arrival on the big stage.
