6 days ago
From Idol To Opponent: 17-Year-Old Unnati Hooda's Historic Rise In Badminton
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Unnati Hooda, a rising star in Indian badminton, made history by winning the Odisha Open at 14 and defeating Kirsty Gilmour at 17. She now faces her idol PV Sindhu next.
From idolizing legends to challenging them on the court, Unnati Hooda's journey in Indian badminton has come full circle.
Over the past decade, India has witnessed the rise of several badminton greats—Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, and Kidambi Srikanth, to the current generation of stars like Chirag Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and Lakshya Sen. Now, a new name is rapidly emerging to join that elite list: Unnati Hooda.
Making History at Just 14
Unnati burst onto the international scene in 2022 when, at just 14 years of age, she claimed the Odisha Open title, becoming the youngest Indian ever to win a Super 100 BWF World Tour event. The win instantly marked her as one of the brightest young prospects in Indian badminton.
Breaking Records at 17
Now 17, Unnati has continued her meteoric rise. Ranked a career-high world No. 37, she etched her name in the history books once again by defeating Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour at a prestigious World Tour 1000 event.
Unnati stunned the two-time Commonwealth Games medallist with a 21-11, 21-16 win in just 36 minutes at the Olympic Sports Centre on Wednesday. Her performance was highlighted by a brilliant comeback in the second game, rallying from 8-13 down to secure the match in style.
A Dream Match Against Her Idol
With her victory, Unnati has now set up a Round of 16 clash with none other than PV Sindhu, a player she has long admired.
'I am a big fan of PV Sindhu's smashes. Growing up, I have always aspired to play like her. I'm hoping that I will get an opportunity to see her play and learn from her game," Unnati told The Tribune in an interview earlier this year.
Now, not only will she see Sindhu play—she'll share the same court with her as a competitor.
A Meteoric Climb in the Rankings
Unnati's breakthrough year was 2022. She started the season ranked world No. 418, but her Odisha Open win propelled her up the rankings, jumping more than 200 spots to No. 217.
Her rapid ascent didn't stop there. By the end of 2022, she had broken into the top 100.
Unnati's second senior title came in October 2023, when she defeated compatriot Samiya Imad Farooqui in a tightly contested final at the Abu Dhabi Masters, another Super 100 BWF World Tour event.
With a World Tour 1000 title win under her belt and a dream face-off with her childhood idol, Unnati Hooda is no longer just a promising youngster—she's a rising force in international badminton.
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