Rounak Chouhan and Devika Sihag March into US Open Semi-Finals as Indian Badminton Continues Dream Run

India's impressive campaign at the Yonex US Open 2026 continued on Friday as 18-year-old Rounak Chouhan and Devika Sihag advanced to the semi-finals with outstanding performances, keeping India's hopes alive for multiple titles.

The day once again belonged to the teenage sensation Rounak Chouhan, who followed up the biggest victory of his career over World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen by producing another composed display to defeat Israeli veteran Misha Zilberman in straight games and book his maiden BWF World Tour Super 300 semi-final.

Meanwhile, Devika Sihag displayed remarkable composure to overcome former World Junior Champion Riko Gunji of Japan, setting up a last-four clash against Denmark's second seed Line Christophersen.

Although India's impressive run in women's singles saw Tanvi Sharma bow out in the quarter-finals, the overall day belonged to the country's rising stars.

Just 24 hours after stunning top seed and World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen, Rounak Chouhan returned to court with the confidence of a player far beyond his years. Facing experienced Israeli campaigner Misha Zilberman, the Indian teenager never allowed his opponent to settle into the contest. Displaying aggressive intent from the opening rally, Rounak controlled the pace of the match with sharp net play, quick transitions and powerful attacking strokes. The youngster wrapped up the victory in straight games to reach the biggest semi-final of his career.

The achievement marks his first-ever BWF World Tour Super 300 semi-final, another major milestone for one of India's brightest badminton prospects. The crowd inside the arena responded enthusiastically to Rounak's fearless style, repeatedly applauding his attacking rallies and energetic celebrations.

Rounak's victories this week have been about much more than youthful enthusiasm. Against Chou Tien Chen, the Indian produced one of the most tactically disciplined performances of the tournament. Instead of allowing the experienced Taiwanese star to dictate long rallies, Rounak consistently pushed forward, taking control of the front court and denying Chou the rhythm that has made him one of the world's best players.

The teenager's aggressive approach proved decisive.

He recovered from 15-17 down in the opening game to win 21-17, before producing an even more remarkable comeback from 11-17 in the second game.

Facing four game points against one of badminton's most experienced campaigners, Rounak remained composed, refusing to lift the shuttle unnecessarily and instead forcing fast, flat exchanges around the net. His willingness to attack under pressure completely disrupted Chou's rhythm and ultimately produced one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 BWF season.

The victory was not only his first win against a top-10 player, but also a statement that Indian badminton has another exciting young talent ready to challenge the world's elite.

India's success continued in the women's singles draw through Devika Sihag, who overcame a stern challenge from 2019 World Junior Champion Riko Gunji. Although the scoreboard showed a straight-games victory, the contest was far more competitive than the result suggested. Gunji repeatedly threatened to mount late comebacks in both games, forcing Devika to stay mentally strong during the closing stages.

The Indian held her nerve brilliantly, closing out both games with mature shot selection and disciplined defence to secure her place in the semi-finals. The victory is another important step forward for Devika, who has steadily established herself as one of India's emerging women's singles players over the past season. She will now face second seed Line Christophersen of Denmark for a place in the final.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/rounak-chouhan-s-stunning-upset-headlines-india-s-strong-run-at-yonex-us-open-2026-as-four-singles-players-reach-quarter-finals

India's teenage sensation Tanvi Sharma saw her impressive tournament come to an end in the quarter-finals. The youngster lost to Denmark's Line Christophersen in a three-game contest. Tanvi made a strong start by taking the opening game 21-16, showcasing the aggressive attacking game that has impressed throughout the tournament.

However, Christophersen's experience proved decisive as the Dane responded by winning the next two games 21-11 and 21-11 to book her place in the semi-finals. Despite the defeat, Tanvi once again demonstrated her enormous potential by reaching the last eight of a Super 300 tournament at such a young age.

The performances in Iowa underline the growing depth within Indian badminton. For years, the country relied heavily on a handful of established stars. Today, players such as Rounak Chouhan, Devika Sihag, Tanvi Sharma and several other youngsters are proving capable of making deep runs on the BWF World Tour.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway has been Rounak's fearless mindset. His victories have not come through defensive resilience alone but through proactive, attacking badminton that has consistently put experienced opponents under pressure. That tactical maturity, combined with his composure in clutch moments, suggests he possesses the qualities needed to compete regularly at the highest level.

India now heads into the semi-finals with genuine hopes of multiple finalists. Rounak Chouhan will look to continue the dream run that has already included the biggest victory of his career and a maiden Super 300 semi-final appearance. Devika Sihag, meanwhile, faces her toughest challenge yet against second seed Line Christophersen, but her performances so far suggest she has every reason to believe she can cause another upset.

Regardless of the final outcomes, the Yonex US Open 2026 has already emerged as a breakthrough tournament for India's next generation. With fearless youngsters delivering against higher-ranked opponents, the future of Indian badminton looks brighter than ever.