In a jaw-dropping moment for Indian badminton, 17-year-old Unnati Hooda pulled off a stunning upset, defeating two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu 21-16, 19-21, 21-13 to storm into the China Open Super 1000 quarterfinals. The 73-minute thriller marked Hooda’s first-ever Super 1000 quarterfinal and the first time in seven years an Indian has toppled Sindhu internationally, echoing Saina Nehwal’s 2018 Commonwealth Games triumph.

“I didn’t expect to win today,” admitted Hooda, a rising star from Rohtak who outshone her idol with relentless energy and precision. Despite burning both Hawkeye challenges early in a tense second game, Hooda stayed patient, dominating the decider with powerful smashes and sharp angles. “I was ready for long rallies in the third game,” she said, sealing the match with a blazing forehand winner. Next up, she faces Japan’s two-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi.

Sindhu, ranked world No. 15, struggled with court conditions and unforced errors. “The shuttle was hard to control,” she said, graciously adding, “It’s good for Unnati. She’s coming up, and I wish her the best.” The loss highlighted Hooda’s fearless approach, as she surged from 13-all in the opener and capitalized on Sindhu’s dip in the decider to secure her biggest career win.

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Elsewhere, India’s top men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, powered into the quarterfinals with a gritty 21-19, 21-19 win over Indonesia’s eighth-seeded Leo Rolly Carnando and Bagas Maulana. Trailing in both games, the duo clawed back with tactical brilliance, sealing the match with a crucial five-point streak. “It was topsy-turvy,” Chirag said. “We’re not at our best yet, but we’re getting there.”

However, HS Prannoy’s run ended in the men’s singles, falling 21-18, 15-21, 8-21 to Chinese Taipei’s sixth seed Chou Tien Chen in a 65-minute battle. Despite the setback, Hooda’s triumph and Satwik-Chirag’s advance keep India’s flag flying high at the China Open, signaling a new era for the nation’s badminton stars.

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