Rohtak’s Unnati Hooda Beats Sindhu, Emerges as Next Big Hope in Badminton

With a world ranking of 37, a disciplined game, and her father's sacrifices behind her success, she is now one of India's brightest hopes in women’s badminton.

Unnati Hooda became a household name in Indian badminton after pulling off a sensational win against double Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu at the 2025 China Open.

From Rohtak to the world stage, Unnati’s rise is built on discipline and grit (Photos: IANS)

At just 17, she stunned the badminton world with her fearless game and calm nerves, winning in a thrilling three-setter. Though she eventually lost in the quarterfinals to world No.?4 Akane Yamaguchi, Unnati’s performance captured the nation’s imagination. She is now considered one of India’s top young talents and carries the hopes of millions as a future champion.

While taking on the seasoned champion Sindhu at the China Open, Unnati started strong, claiming the opening game 21-16, but Sindhu struck back in the second, edging it 21-19 in a tense finish. In the decider, Unnati displayed remarkable play, sealing the contest 21-13 to advance to the quarterfinals.

The 17-year-old Unnati from Haryana had a slight advantage at 19-18 after a neck-and-neck battle as lead exchanged hands repeatedly before Sindhu won three points in a row from 18 to win the second game and levelled scores.

In the decider, Unnati opened a 3-1 lead, and before Sindhu closed the gap to 5-6. Ranked 28th in the World, Unnati extended the lead to 10-5. She maintained the advantage to 13-6 before going on to seal the game and match at 21-13, winning five points in a row towards the end of the match.

This was their first head-to-head encounter at the international stage and thus Unnati's maiden victory over the seasoned Sindhu.

Unnati's father quit his job to support her journey, even cooking meals for her at tournaments

Born on 20 September 2007 in Rohtak, Haryana, Unnati started playing badminton at the age of seven. She was inspired and supported by her father, Upkar Hooda, who played a very important role in her journey.

Upkar Hooda left his government teaching job to support Unnati’s badminton career. He even travelled with her to tournaments and made sure she ate healthy home-cooked food. Sometimes, he would carry an induction stove and ingredients to cook paneer dishes and ladoos for her during matches.

Unnati trained at Chhotu Ram Stadium Academy in Rohtak from a young age. In 2018, she won a bronze medal in the U-13 National Championships. In 2019, she became the U-13 national champion.

Her big moment came in 2022, when she won the Odisha Open Super 100 when she was just 14 years old. She became the youngest Indian to win a BWF World Tour title. That same year, she won a silver medal at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships.

Unnati kept rising in the senior circuit. In 2023, she won the Abu Dhabi Masters and the India International Challenge. In 2025, she broke into the top 40 of world rankings and was ranked World No. 37 in July.

Her coaches and peers admire her for her discipline, mental strength, and humility. During the COVID lockdown, she continued training with great focus. She has been known to practice hundreds of drop shots in one session.

Unnati also balances her studies with sports. She scored an impressive 93% in her Class 12 CBSE board exams in 2025. She says she looks up to many players like Saina Nehwal, Tai Tzu Ying, and An Se Young, but wants to follow her own unique path. – TWL Bureau with inputs from IANS