Indian badminton’s next singles hope has arrived with a bolt of lightning speed. In a breathtaking display of fearless grit at the Titan Gym in California, 18-year-old qualifier Rounak Chouhan pulled off the monumental upset of the US Open Super 300 tournament, packing off world number six and top seed Chou Tien Chen in straight games on Thursday.
The 49-minute, 21-17, 26-24 second-round masterclass was Rounak Chouhan’s first victory over a top-10 opponent and a definitive declaration of his ice-cool temperament under severe pressure.
The teenager from Chhattisgarh, currently ranked world number 80, consistently turned the tables on his vastly experienced Taiwanese opponent. In the opening game, trailing 15-17, Chouhan reeled off six unanswered points with aggressive, precision play to pocket the opener. The ultimate test of his character came in the second game, when the veteran Chou commanded a commanding 17-11 lead. Unfazed, the Indian junior star mounted a sensational fightback to claw his way level. In a thrilling, point-for-point finale, Chouhan saved four game points before converting his second match point to seal a historic victory.
Moments after the winning shuttle touched the court, a triumphant Chouhan ran straight into the arms of Park Tae Sang.
The renowned Korean coach, who worked with PV Sindhu during her Tokyo Olympics medal, has been quietly sharpening India’s next crop of singles talent at the National Centre of Excellence (NCE) in Guwahati. Chouhan was one of the foundation trainees when the state-of-the-art facility opened its doors in 2023, and the meticulous preparation is paying immediate dividends on the elite circuit.
Off the court, the BWF World Junior No. 14 is a regular teenager who loves unwinding over video games, hanging out at cafes, and watching superhero blockbusters. When asked about a desired superpower, Chouhan once quipped he’d choose “speed like The Flash.”
On Thursday night, his court coverage and explosive reflexes proved he isn’t far off.
Having already defended his India Junior International Series crown in Hyderabad and starred in India’s historic bronze-medal run at the 2025 World Junior Team Championships, Rounak Chouhan’s senior transition has been seamless. Coming off a promising pre-quarterfinal run at the Macau Open last week, the teenager has booked a quarter-final clash with Israel’s Misha Zilberman. No longer just a prospect, the kid from Chhattisgarh is now a genuine contender.
– Ends
