Srikanth Kidambi Storms Into US Open 2026 Final; Rounak Chouhan and Devika Sihag Impress With Career-Best Runs

Indian badminton enjoyed another memorable day at the BWF Yonex US Open Super 300, with Srikanth Kidambi booking his place in the men's singles final while youngsters Rounak Chouhan and Devika Sihag concluded breakthrough campaigns in the semi-finals.

Although Rounak and Devika fell just one step short of the title match, both delivered career-defining performances throughout the week, highlighting the growing depth in Indian badminton. Meanwhile, former world No. 1 Srikanth continued his impressive resurgence, setting up his first BWF World Tour final in several years.

The biggest headline of the day belonged to Srikanth Kidambi. The experienced Indian shuttler battled past Japan's Yudai Okimoto in a gripping three-game contest, winning 22-20, 15-21, 21-19 to secure his place in the championship match. The semi-final was a showcase of Srikanth's experience and composure.

After narrowly taking the opening game, he found himself under pressure when Okimoto responded strongly to level the match. The deciding game remained neck-and-neck until the closing stages, but Srikanth held his nerve to edge through and seal victory. The win sends the 33-year-old into his fourth BWF World Tour final, marking another significant milestone in his comeback after battling injuries and inconsistent form over recent seasons.

For Indian badminton, seeing one of its most accomplished players back competing for major titles is an encouraging sign ahead of a busy international calendar.

Rounak Chouhan's Dream Week Ends in the Semi-Finals

While the defeat will sting, Rounak Chouhan leaves the United States with plenty to celebrate. The 18-year-old qualifier saw his remarkable run come to an end after losing 17-21, 19-21 to Chinese Taipei's Su Li Yang in the men's singles semi-final. Facing the world No. 46, Rounak displayed plenty of fighting spirit but was unable to find the consistency required to overcome the higher-ranked opponent.

Despite the straight-games defeat, the Indian youngster remained competitive throughout the contest, particularly in the second game where he repeatedly challenged Su Li Yang before narrowly falling short. More importantly, the tournament represents the biggest achievement of Rounak's young career.

Entering the event as a qualifier, the world No. 80 defeated experienced Israeli shuttler Misha Zilberman in the quarter-finals before becoming the first Indian men's singles qualifier to reach the semi-finals of a BWF Super 300 event this season. It was also his first-ever semi-final appearance on the BWF World Tour, an achievement that underlines his growing potential.

Throughout the week, Rounak showcased fearless attacking badminton and impressive composure against more experienced opponents, suggesting that Indian badminton has another exciting singles prospect emerging through the ranks.

Devika Sihag also produced one of the best performances of her career before bowing out in the women's singles semi-finals. The Indian lost to Denmark's Line Christophersen in a hard-fought three-game battle 21-15, 11-21, 15-21. Devika started brilliantly, taking the opening game with confident attacking play and forcing the higher-ranked Dane onto the defensive.

Christophersen, however, gradually found her rhythm and used her experience to control the longer rallies, comfortably winning the second game before maintaining her momentum in the decider.

Although disappointed by the defeat, Devika can take enormous confidence from her overall performance during the tournament. Her biggest victory came in the quarter-finals, where she upset third seed Riko Gunji in straight games to reach her first Super 300 semi-final. That result demonstrated her ability to compete with established international players and further strengthened her reputation as one of India's brightest young women's singles players.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/rounak-chouhan-and-devika-sihag-march-into-us-open-semi-finals-as-indian-badminton-continues-dream-run

The US Open has highlighted the healthy balance currently developing within Indian badminton. On one side stands Srikanth Kidambi, an experienced campaigner rediscovering the form that once made him one of the world's best players. On the other are young talents such as Rounak Chouhan and Devika Sihag, who continue to make steady progress on the international circuit.

Both youngsters gained valuable ranking points, high-level match experience and confidence from their performances in Fullerton. Competing against higher-ranked opponents in the latter stages of a BWF World Tour event is an important step in their development and should provide motivation ahead of the upcoming tournaments on the international calendar.

While Rounak Chouhan and Devika Sihag leave the tournament with their heads held high after breakthrough campaigns, India's attention now turns to Srikanth Kidambi. The former world No. 1 stands one victory away from lifting another BWF World Tour title and completing an inspiring comeback story. Regardless of the final result, the US Open has already been a successful tournament for Indian badminton.

A finalist in the men's singles, two breakthrough semi-finalists and several impressive victories over higher-ranked opponents reflect the growing depth of Indian singles badminton.

For Srikanth, the opportunity to add another international title awaits.

For Rounak and Devika, the tournament may well be remembered as the week they announced themselves as future contenders on the BWF World Tour.