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Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu formally launched the Bilaspur district administration's innovative initiative, ‘Padhai with AI', at Barthin. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu formally launched the Bilaspur district administration's innovative
Meet Devika Sihag: The 20-Year-Old Making Waves On The BWF World Tour
Meet Devika Sihag: The 20-Year-Old Making Waves On The BWF World Tour
Devika Sihag has become a name to watch out for in Indian badminton. The 20-year-old's breakthrough came at the Thailand Masters, where she beat higher-ranked Tung Ciou-Tong in the second round and stunned top-seed Supanida Katethong in the quarter-finals, announcing herself on the international stage.
Standing 5'9" with an aggressive playing style, Devika is emerging as one of India's most promising women's singles prospects, alongside Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma.
A major boost to her rise has been the Badminton Association of India's decision to place her under national women's team coach, Irwansyah from Indonesia, which has accelerated her development at the senior level.
Training with double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu in Bengaluru, under Irwansyah, has sharpened Devika's aggressive game and has drawn parallels with the latter, with both standing much taller than their peers.
Training with Sindhu under Irwansyah has sharpened her aggressive game, culminating in her maiden BWF Super 300 title in Thailand.
“Moving to PPBA transformed my playing style. I trained under Mr Umendra Rana, who helped me correct a few technical mistakes, which made a big difference," Devika says while speaking to News18 Sports.
“Now I'm training under coach Irwansyah and practising alongside Sindhu didi. I learn a lot from her experience and can ask her anything if I have doubts about my game."
Devika adds, “My movement and speed have improved a lot. Reaching the shuttle earlier gives me more time and options to play different strokes. All the coaches at PPBA, Rana sir, Sagar sir and Sayali ma'am, are always there if we need anything. Coach Irwansyah has really polished my game, both in strokes and movement."
From her early days at Tau Devi Lal to training alongside Sindhu, Devika's journey has been marked by strong support and rapid growth. Her mother played a pivotal role in convincing the family to let her pursue the sport and that faith is now yielding results, despite the youngster not having a knack for the sport during her initial days.
“My father used to go to the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula for fitness, to run. One day, he decided to enroll my brother and me in badminton. I was not very interested and went for fun," Devika says.
“But after a few months of training, I won some district and state-level matches, and that's when my parents felt I should pursue badminton."
With Saina Nehwal now retired and Sindhu's career on the wane, Indian badminton is at a turning point. The focus has shifted to the next generation, not just to replace the doyens of the game, but also to build on their legacy.
“The Indian badminton circuit has improved a lot. In women's singles, around 14-15 players compete at a similar level, which is really encouraging," Devika says. “I hope to keep improving and reach the standards set by Saina didi and Sindhu didi. For now, I am just focusing on getting better."
The Thailand Masters also offered an early test of her goals for the year. “For this year, my main goal was to break into the top 50. My coaches planned which tournaments I should play, but I wasn't thinking too much about rankings," Devika says.
“I decided to give my best in every tournament, and if I lost, I'd learn from my mistakes and improve," Devika explains.
At the tournament, Devika faced multiple higher-ranked shuttlers and emerged victorious. “Beating stronger opponents requires not just physical skill but mental focus and a clear plan," Devika says.
“Before each match, I discuss strategies with my coaches and team, focus on what we practised and try not to put extra pressure on myself. I just focus on using my strengths and performing my best."
Injuries in the past have tested her patience and motivation. “It's just one knee injury I've been dealing with. I've done all the rehab exercises, and it has improved," Devika says.
“Sometimes there's still pain, but it comes and goes. I'm just hoping it settles and doesn't trouble me anymore," says the 20-year-old. During these periods, she stays engaged with rehab, technique improvement and a positive mindset, turning downtime into a chance to grow stronger.
Being taller than many of her contemporaries, Devika's height is both an advantage and a challenge. “It gives me more reach and power, but I need extra agility and speed," she explains.
“I am working on movement so I can fully use my strengths while staying quick and nimble."
Devika's next challenge comes at the Azerbaijan International, where she will be ready to build on her breakthrough season.
Source: News18
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