3 min learnFeb 8, 2026 09:51 PM IST
Devika Sihag, who gained the Tremendous 300 Thailand Masters crown final Sunday, has put in a stable observe up week, successful the Azerbaijan Worldwide badminton match in Baku.
Enjoying on the Politechnic College Sports activities Corridor, Devika seeded fifth, defeated Navya Kanderi 21-10, 21-13 in 28 minutes. However her run-up to the ultimate was extra spectacular. The 2024 Nationwide champion, defeated southpaw academy mate and senior Ashmita Chaliha 21-19, 21-19 in semis, and 2023 Nationwide champion Anupama Upadhyaya, 21-11, 21-14 in quarters.
Using a confidence wave, overcoming Indian opponents whom she used to search out tough earlier, the Thailand title appears to have armed her with momentum. “Indians are at all times the hardest opponents, more durable than worldwide ones at instances, and I’ve performed three units towards all,” she had instructed The Indian Categorical. After reaching Baku – the place each meals and circumstances – might be difficult (“I carry mum-made dryfruit laddus,” she had mentioned), Devika had instructed Categorical how she slept for one full day. “Even sleeping and relaxation is a part of preparation,” she had mentioned.
At Baku nonetheless, the problem got here in Spherical 2 towards German Miranda Wilson, who denied Sihag three match factors although she ultimately gained 21-18, 24-26, 21-9. Devika has mentioned she’s gotten extra affected person and decided now, and this match examined her perseverance.
Chatting with BAI Media after the title triumph, Devika mentioned she was pleased with the way in which she performed these two weeks regardless of not coaching so much. “I’ll now have nearly a month to coach earlier than I play my subsequent match and I’m trying ahead to it,” mentioned Devika, who’s hoping to get entry within the Swiss Open along with her improved rating. Orleans can be on her radar.
Radhika Sharma now begins successful
Radhika, the elder sister of Tanvi Sharma, who focussed on doubles, scored her first combined doubles title, combining with Sathwik Reddy Kanapuram to upset third seeds Mihajlo Tomic and Andjela Vitman 24-22, 10-21, 24-22 in an hour and two minutes. Radhika, from Hoshiarpur, trains on the NCOE at Guwahati.
It was a marathon 62 minute match for the pair of 20 yr olds, who had been repeatedly thwarted by their Serbian opponents, however managed to transform in each tight units.
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Within the semis, they’d crushed Czech pair of Ondrej Kral and Tereza Svabikova 21-15, 2-16. The duo additionally confronted resistance in quarters from World Juniors pairing of Bhagya Chhabra and Vishakha Toppo, combating again to win 15-21, 22-20, 21-14, successful from two factors away from an exit at 18-19.
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