18-Year-Old Rounak Chauhan Stuns World No. 6 Chou Tien-Chen At US Open 2026

Last Updated:June 26, 2026, 09:45 IST

Rounak Chauhan stunned World No. 6 Chou Tien-chen in straight games at the US Open, securing the biggest win of his career and reaching his maiden Super 300 quarterfinal.

Indian badminton has another exciting young name to watch.

Eighteen-year-old Rounak Chauhan produced the biggest victory of his young career by upsetting World No. 6 and top seed Chou Tien-chen 21-17, 26-24 in the Round of 16 at the BWF US Open Super 300.

The stunning win, completed in just 49 minutes, sent the Indian into his maiden Super 300 quarterfinal and marked his first-ever victory over a top-10 opponent.

The result is among the biggest shocks of the tournament, with Chauhan overturning sizeable deficits in both games.

The teenager trailed 15-17 in the opening game before reeling off six of the final eight points, and then mounted an even more remarkable comeback from 11-17 down in the second to edge the former World Championships silver medallist in a nerve-wracking finish.

Rather than being overawed by Chou’s reputation and attacking prowess, the Indian teenager dictated rallies with confidence, displaying an impressive mix of court coverage, precision and shot-making to complete a memorable straight-games victory.

Who is Rounak Chauhan?

While Indian fans are only beginning to know his name, Chauhan has quietly built a reputation as one of the country’s brightest junior prospects.

The 18-year-old, currently ranked World No. 80, trains at the BAI National Centre of Excellence and has steadily climbed the senior circuit after impressing at the junior level. He was among India’s leading entrants at the BWF World Junior Championships, earning a reputation for his speed, tactical awareness and all-round game.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

News sports badminton 18-Year-Old Rounak Chauhan Stuns World No. 6 Chou Tien-Chen At US Open 2026

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