Who Is Rounak Chouhan? India’s New Badminton Hope Announces Himself in Style

After the meteoric rise of Lakshya Sen in the men’s singles, Indian badminton seems to have found the next superstar in the form of Rounak Chouhan. The 18-year-old became a household name after defeating Thomas Cup bronze medalist Chou Tien Chen from Chinese Taipei in the Round of 16 of the US Open 2026.

Chouhan carried the fine run in the tournament with yet another thumping performance, this time defeating the experienced shuttler Misha Zilberman from Israel. Now, he is ready to face another youngster from Chinese Taipei, Su Li Yang, in the semifinals.

Who Is Rounak Chouhan?

Hailing from Chhattisgarh, 18-year-old Rounak Chouhan is an upcoming Indian shuttler who has already established himself as one of India’s brightest badminton prospects in the circuit.

In 2024, Rounak clinched his maiden international crown at the India Junior International Series at Hyderabad in boys’ singles and defended it as the top seed in 2025, a big turnaround from his early exit in 2023. Currently ranked No. 14 in the BWF World Junior Rankings, he also finished runner-up at the All India Senior Ranking Tournament in Pune, 2025. Rounak also played a key role in the historic bronze medal-winning Indian team at the World Junior Team Championships 2025.

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,” something which the world has seen on the grandest stage of badminton in the world.

Chouhan’s Lightning Fast Attacks Against Chou Tien Chen

Rounak Chouhan produced the biggest result of his young career with a stunning 21-17, 26-24 victory over world No. 7 Chou Tien Chen in the second round. The 49-minute triumph marked the first time the 18-year-old Indian had defeated a top-10 opponent and showcased his composure under immense pressure.

Ranked world No. 80, the Chhattisgarh shuttler fought back brilliantly in both games. Trailing 15-17 in the opener, Chouhan reeled off six consecutive points with aggressive shot-making to take the first game. In the second, he faced an even tougher challenge after falling behind 11-17 against the vastly experienced Taiwanese veteran.

Rather than folding under pressure, Chouhan mounted an inspired comeback to level the scores before holding his nerve in a tense finish. He saved four game points and converted his second match point to complete one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

The breakthrough win also highlighted the impact of the National Centre of Excellence (NCE) in Guwahati, where Chouhan has trained since its launch in 2023 under renowned South Korean coach Park Tae-sang. Best known for guiding PV Sindhu during her Tokyo Olympics medal-winning campaign, Park has been nurturing India’s next generation of singles talent, with Chouhan’s landmark victory providing another encouraging sign of the programme’s success.