Unnati Hooda Defeated Two-Time Olympic Champion PV Sindhu at China Open 2025
At just 18 years old, Unnati Hooda has emerged as one of India’s most promising badminton talents, currently ranked World No. 34 after achieving a career-high World No. 30 in July 2025. The Haryana-born shuttler’s remarkable journey from a seven-year-old beginner to semifinalist at BWF Super 500 events demonstrates her rapid rise in world badminton.
Standing at 1.67m (5’6″) and playing right-handed, Unnati brings an aggressive baseline game combined with quick court coverage. Her ability to construct rallies and create opportunities has troubled opponents across age groups and competition levels.
Here’s all you need to know about the 18-year-old Indian sensation.
Historic HYLO Open Run
Unnati made headlines at the 2025 HYLO Open by reaching her maiden BWF Super 500 semifinal in Saarbrücken, Germany. The teenager’s impressive run came to an end against top seed and World No. 7 Putri Kusuma Wardani, falling 7-21, 13-21 in 35 minutes. Despite the loss, reaching the last four of a Super 500 tournament at 18 represents a significant milestone in her young career.
She is only the third women’s singles player, after An Se-young and Tomoka Miyazaki, to reach the semifinals of a Super 500 event before turning 18.5 years old. Her performance has propelled her live ranking to #28 in women’s singles, making her the second Indian after Kashyap and Malvika since 2023.
Wardani, who reached the 2025 World Championships semifinals and notably defeated PV Sindhu in the quarterfinals, showcased the quality of opposition Unnati is now regularly facing at the highest levels of the sport.
2025: Breaking Barriers
The 2025 season has been transformative for Unnati. At the China Open Super 1000, she delivered statement victories over Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour and two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu en route to the quarterfinals, where she fell to Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in straight games. These wins demonstrated her ability to compete against and defeat established players on the biggest stages.
BREAKING: 17-yr-old UNNATI HOODA STUNS P.V Sindhu 🔥
— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) July 24, 2025
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
More recently, Unnati was part of India’s historic bronze medal-winning team at the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships in Guwahati—the nation’s first-ever medal in the event. Though she exited in the quarterfinals of the individual singles event, her contribution to the team’s success marked another milestone for Indian badminton.
Early Career Success
Unnati’s journey into professional badminton began at age seven when her father Upkar Hooda, passionate about the sport, enrolled her at the Chottu Ram Stadium badminton academy in Rohtak. Her talent quickly became apparent as she progressed through junior ranks.
In 2022, at just 14 years old, Unnati won her first BWF World Tour title at the Odisha Masters Super 100, defeating Smit Toshniwal 21-18, 21-11 in the final. That same year, she earned silver at the Badminton Asia Junior U17 Championships and was selected for India’s Uber Cup team, gaining invaluable experience competing alongside the nation’s senior players.
Her impressive 2022 campaign continued with a runner-up finish at the India Junior International, where she pushed Thailand’s Sarunrak Vitidsarn to three games before falling 25-23, 17-21, 10-21.
Building Momentum in 2023
The 2023 season saw Unnati claim her second BWF World Tour title at the Abu Dhabi Masters, defeating compatriot Samiya Farooqui 21-16, 22-20 in the final. She followed this by winning the India International Challenge, beating Tasnim Mir in straight games to add another title to her growing collection.
Despite a runner-up finish at the second India International Challenge of 2023, losing to Isharani Baruah in three games, Unnati’s consistency at winning tournaments demonstrated her growing maturity as a player.
The Road Ahead
As Unnati continues her development, her recent performances against top-30 and top-10 players suggest she’s ready to compete regularly at the highest levels. Her semifinal appearance at the HYLO Open, victories over established stars like PV Sindhu, and contribution to India’s historic World Junior Mixed Team Championships bronze all point to a player capable of breaking into the world’s top 20.
With a career record of 70 wins and 38 losses, Unnati maintains a winning percentage that reflects her competitive nature. Her two BWF World Tour titles and multiple Challenge tournament finals demonstrate consistency at various levels of competition.
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