India’s badminton campaign at the 2026 US Open gathered remarkable momentum on Friday as three shuttlers advanced to the semifinals, keeping alive hopes of multiple titles at the BWF World Tour Super 300 event.
Rising women’s singles star Devika Sihag produced the biggest upset of the day by eliminating third seed Riko Gunji of Japan, while experienced campaigner Kidambi Srikanth and young talent Rounak Chouhan also secured impressive victories in the men’s singles quarterfinals. The trio’s success ensured India remained one of the strongest-performing nations in the tournament heading into the final weekend, with the possibility of an all-Indian men’s singles final still very much alive.
The standout performance came from Devika Sihag, who displayed exceptional composure under pressure to defeat higher-ranked Japanese shuttler Riko Gunji in straight games. The Thailand Masters champion edged a fiercely contested encounter 22-20, 21-19, holding her nerve during the crucial closing stages of both games to record one of the biggest victories of her career.
Facing the tournament’s third seed, Devika refused to be intimidated by her opponent’s reputation. She matched Gunji’s speed with aggressive stroke play and remained calm during extended rallies, particularly when the Japanese player attempted late comebacks in both games. The victory marks another significant milestone in Devika’s rapid rise on the international circuit. Having already claimed the Thailand Masters title earlier this season, the Indian youngster continues to establish herself as one of the country’s brightest prospects in women’s singles.
Her reward is a semifinal clash against Denmark’s second seed Line Christophersen, who overcame India’s Tanvi Sharma in a three-game contest. Christophersen defeated Tanvi 21-16, 11-21, 21-11 to progress, setting up a challenging encounter for Devika as she seeks her first BWF World Tour Super 300 final.
India’s hopes in the women’s singles were reduced later in the day after Rakshitha Sree bowed out in the quarterfinals. The Indian fought hard but eventually lost 15-21, 21-16, 21-12 to Canada’s Rachel Chan after an intense three-game battle.
In the men’s singles draw, Rounak Chouhan continued his dream run with another commanding performance. The Indian defeated Israel’s veteran Misha Zilberman 23-21, 21-11 in just 38 minutes to book his maiden semifinal appearance at a BWF World Tour Super 300 event.
Although the opening game proved closely contested, Chouhan displayed remarkable maturity by winning the crucial points in the closing stages before dominating the second game with aggressive attacking play. His victory further highlights the emergence of a new generation of Indian men’s singles players capable of challenging established international names.
The young Indian will next face eighth seed Su Li Yang of Chinese Taipei for a place in the final. A victory would give Chouhan the biggest achievement of his professional career and move him one step closer to a maiden World Tour title.
Former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth also delivered when it mattered, overcoming Chinese Taipei’s Liao Jhuo-Fu in a three-game quarterfinal to strengthen India’s title hopes. Srikanth won 21-9, 12-21, 21-8 after recovering impressively from a second-game setback. The experienced Indian completely dominated the opening game with sharp net play and precise smashes before Liao fought back to level the contest. However, Srikanth quickly regained control in the decider, racing through the third game with confidence to seal victory in convincing fashion.
For Srikanth, the semifinal appearance represents another encouraging step in his comeback journey. Once ranked World No. 1 and among the world’s most feared attacking players, the Indian has battled injuries and inconsistency in recent years. His performances in the United States suggest he is rediscovering the form that made him one of India’s most successful male shuttlers. The 33-year-old will now face Japan’s fourth seed Yudai Okimoto in the semifinals. Should both Srikanth and Chouhan win their respective matches, India will be guaranteed the men’s singles title through an all-Indian final.
Indian badminton has enjoyed tremendous success over the past decade, producing Olympic medallists, World Championship winners and multiple BWF World Tour champions. While stars such as P. V. Sindhu, Saina Nehwal and Srikanth helped establish India as a global badminton powerhouse, a new generation featuring players like Chouhan and Devika is now beginning to make its mark on the international stage.
The US Open has traditionally served as an important tournament for players looking to gain valuable ranking points and build confidence ahead of bigger events later in the season. Strong performances here can significantly improve qualification prospects for elite tournaments on the BWF calendar.
With three Indians now just one victory away from the finals, expectations are growing for another memorable outing. Devika will look to continue her giant-killing run against Line Christophersen, while Chouhan aims to reach his maiden World Tour final. Srikanth, meanwhile, will rely on his wealth of experience as he bids to return to another international title match.
As the tournament enters its decisive phase, India’s challenge remains stronger than ever. Friday’s impressive performances have not only underlined the country’s growing depth in badminton but have also raised hopes that multiple Indian shuttlers could finish the week standing atop the podium.
