PV Sindhu suffered a narrow defeat to Unnati Hooda in a fiercely contested badminton match, ending her campaign at the China Super Open 1000 tournament. Unnati Hooda pulled off the biggest win of her young career by defeating two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu to secure a spot in the women’s singles quarterfinals on Thursday.
The 17-year-old Hooda showcased nerves of steel and fearless badminton as she went toe-to-toe with the vastly experienced Sindhu. She started the match on the front foot, clinching the opening game 21-16 with sharp movement and confident shot-making.
Sindhu, known for her grit, mounted a comeback in the second game, narrowly edging it 21-19 to force a decider. But Hooda didn’t back down. Showing maturity beyond her years, she dominated the third game 21-13, sealing a memorable victory and a place among the last eight.
BREAKING: 17-yr-old UNNATI HOODA STUNS P.V Sindhu 🔥
With that stunning 21-16, 19-21, 21-13 win in 2nd round, Unnati sails into QF of China Open (Super 1000). #ChinaOpen2025 pic.twitter.com/bz8UpHiZAb---Advertisement---— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) July 24, 2025
Next Up: A Tough Test Against Yamaguchi
Hooda’s next challenge will be her biggest. Yet she’ll face World No. 4 and third seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the quarterfinals. A win there would further solidify her status as one of India’s most exciting young prospects in the sport.
Satwik-Chirag Eye Semifinal Berth in Men’s Doubles
Meanwhile, in men’s doubles action, India’s top-ranked pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are also through to the quarterfinals. The duo will take on Malaysia’s Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi in what promises to be a fiercely contested match.
With Hooda’s stunning upset and Satwik-Chirag in the hunt, India’s campaign at the China Open continues to generate plenty of excitement.
Also Read: Team India To Return To England For White-Ball Series In 2026! Here’s Full Detail
