India’s rising badminton star, Devika Sihag, won her biggest career title yet, clinching the women’s singles crown at the Malaysia International Challenge 2025 in Ipoh on Sunday. The 20-year-old defeated fellow Indian shuttler Isharani Baruah 15-7, 15-12 in the final, marking her maiden triumph at the prestigious BWF International Challenge level.
The straight-games victory marked a memorable week for the world No. 100, who displayed remarkable composure and tactical maturity to navigate a challenging draw. Sihag’s win came under the BWF’s experimental 3×15 scoring system, where matches are decided in best-of-three games of 15 points each, as opposed to the traditional 21-point format.x
Sihag, who had previously won titles at the Swedish Open and Portugal International in 2024 on the International Series circuit, has now taken a significant leap forward. The International Challenge tournaments are a step higher on the BWF Continental Circuit, and her victory signals that she is more than just ready to challenge established names on the international stage.
Her path to the title was paved with significant hurdles along the way, but she overcame them all fiercely. After easing past Mexico’s Cristina Perez and Malaysia’s Lee Mun in the opening rounds, Sihag amazed Japan’s top seed and world No. 36 Manami Suizu in the quarter-finals with a commanding 15-10, 15-11 win.
In the semi-finals, she produced a spirited fightback against compatriot Tasnim Mir, a former junior world No. 1 and currently ranked 71 in the world. Sihag bounced back from a game down to prevail 11-15, 15-9, 16-14 in a nail-biting encounter that lasted nearly an hour.
By the time she entered the final against fifth-seeded Baruah, ranked world No. 75, Sihag carried unstoppable momentum. She wrapped up the title clash in just 25 minutes, showing her sharp shot selection and aggressive net play.
A rising badminton star – Devika Sihag
The Haryana-born shuttler had already made waves last year by winning the senior National Badminton Championships in Bengaluru, establishing herself as one of the brightest young talents in India. She was also part of the Indian contingent that bagged a bronze medal at the 2025 World University Games in Germany.
Overall, India enjoyed a strong outing in Ipoh. In women’s singles, Ashmita Chaliha and Ira Sharma both reached the Round of 16 before bowing out. Sihag’s victory and the growing presence of Indian players on an international stage highlight the depth of the Indian badminton unit.
The road ahead for Devika Sihag
With Olympic qualifying phases along with other notable events on the cards, the victory will be vital for young Sihag as she solidifies her place in the badminton world.
Her success in Ipoh emphasises not only her distinctive abilities but also India’s growing influence in the world of badminton, where the next generation is beginning to make its mark.
Yash Desai is a renowned journalist with over 10+ years of experience covering sports around the world. He began his career as a News Reporter in Delhi, India, and got an opportunity to cover several World events, including the Olympics, Paralympics, and World Games. He often felt that women’s sports are sidelined and given step-motherly treatment by the mainstream media. To bridge this gap and to build an equal playing field, Yash co-founded FemaleInSports and is currently working as a Lead Editor here.
