Unnati Hooda Beats Thet Htar Thuzar in BWF World Championships Opener

Eighteen-year-old Unnati Hooda began her senior BWF World Championships campaign with a hard-fought 22-20, 21-16 victory over Myanmar’s Thet Htar Thuzar on Tuesday. The Indian shuttler admitted that fellow youngster Ayush Shetty’s stunning upset of world No. 1 Shi Yuqi had given her and other Indian players additional confidence ahead of their own matches. Ayush defeated the defending champion 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in his maiden World Championships appearance, a result Unnati described as an inspiration.

Unnati needed 40 minutes to overcome Thet in a match that was more competitive than the straight-game score suggested. The first game remained closely contested, with Unnati holding an 11-10 lead at the interval before eventually edging it 22-20. She was more aggressive in the second game and opened up a commanding 16-5 advantage, but a series of unforced errors allowed Thet to threaten a comeback. Unnati regained her composure and closed the match 21-16.

Her father, Upkar Hooda, was once again beside her in the coach’s chair. He has trained Unnati for around 10 years and played a major role in her development, even giving up his job to support her badminton ambitions. During the second game, Upkar urged his daughter to abandon unnecessary variations and return to her normal game after her errors allowed Thet to gain momentum. Unnati said his advice helped her regain focus and finish the match.

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The teenager now faces a significantly tougher challenge in the second round against Canada’s Michelle Li. The 36-year-old is ranked 13 places above Unnati and brings extensive experience of competing at major international events. Li is also the reigning Pan American champion and holds a 1-0 record against Unnati, having defeated her at the 2024 Arctic Open. The Indian youngster said she intends to focus on her own game, control her nerves and enjoy the opportunity.

Unnati has already made history in her young career, becoming the youngest Indian player to win a BWF World Tour Super 100 title when she was 14. She is now the second-highest-ranked Indian women’s singles player and is part of a growing group of young shuttlers, including Devika Sihag, Tanvi Sharma, Ashmita Chaliha, Rakshita Sri and Anmol Kharb, competing for greater prominence. Against Li, patience will be particularly important, something Unnati identified as one of the key lessons from her opening-round match.

Ayush Shetty’s victory over Shi Yuqi has provided a timely reminder that rankings and reputation do not decide a badminton match. Ayush had lost all three of his previous meetings with the Chinese star, including the Badminton Asia Championships final in April, before producing a major upset at the World Championships. Unnati said the result reinforced the belief that in a one-on-one contest, anyone can win or lose. She will now look to carry that confidence into her meeting with the experienced Li.

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