My target is to be in the top-30: Devika Sihag Premium

My target is to be in the top-30: Devika Sihag

What began from the recreational courts of Panchkula has now taken Devika Sihag to the podium on the BWF circuit.

Her recent breakthrough performances at back-to-back tournaments in Thailand (a Super 300 event) and Azerbaijan, where she clinched the title, signal a promising phase in her young career and point to the emergence of a new offensive presence in Indian badminton.

She will next be in action at the Orleans Masters in France, beginning March 17 (Tuesday), as she looks to build on her recent run of form.

Hailing from Haryana, the same State that produced Olympian Saina Nehwal, the 5’9” shuttler literally stands tall with a frame that invites comparison with another Olympian P.V. Sindhu.

However, her ascent has not been without its structural and physical taxes. Battling the knee issues with her patella (the bone in front of the knee) inherent to tall athletes and overcoming the psychological complex of facing compatriots, Devika has been honing her game in the high performance environment of the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA) in Bengaluru since 2018.

Training alongside Olympic pedigree and balancing a degree in Sports Management, the 20-year-old, is now deep into her preparations for the top tier.