Key Points

Unnati Hooda showcased her dominance with a swift victory over Kirsty Gilmour to advance in the China Open. PV Sindhu fought hard in a three-game battle against Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki to secure her spot. Meanwhile, Satwik and Chirag breezed past their opponents, maintaining their flawless record. The Panda sisters, however, couldn’t overcome their Hong Kong rivals, ending their campaign early.

Key Points: Unnati Hooda Storms Into China Open Round of 16 to Face Sindhu

  • Unnati Hooda crushes Kirsty Gilmour 21-11, 21-16 in 36 minutes
  • PV Sindhu survives scare against Tomoka Miyazaki in three-game thriller
  • Satwik-Chirag dominate Japanese pair to enter Round of 16
  • Panda sisters bow out in women’s doubles after tough Hong Kong challenge
2 min read

Unnati Hooda advances to round of 16 of China Open, to face Sindhu

Teen sensation Unnati Hooda dominates Kirsty Gilmour to set up an all-Indian clash against PV Sindhu in China Open Round of 16.

"Unnati delivered a commanding performance to outplay experienced Kirsty Gilmour in just 36 minutes. – Badminton Association of India"

Changzhou, July 23

Unnati Hooda delivered a commanding performance to outplay experienced Scottish shuttler Kirsty Gilmour 21-11, 21-16 in just 36 minutes at the China Open 2025, as per Badminton Association of India (BAI).

With this impressive win, 17-year-old Unnati advanced to the Round-of-16, where she will take on compatriot PV Sindhu in an all-Indian clash.

PV Sindhu brushed off an early scare to book her berth in the next phase at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Changzhou.

Japan's Tomoka Miyazaki threatened to end Sindhu's campaign, but the two-time Olympic medallist roared back to qualify for the pre-quarter-finals. Sindhu clinched a 21-15, 8-21, 21-17 victory over Miyazaki in a fixture that lasted for 1 hour and 2 minutes.

In her second meeting against the sixth seed, Sindhu dominated her Japanese opposition in the opening game, built an early healthy lead and clinched the game. In the second game, Sindhu fought for control against Miyazaki and eventually conceded a comprehensive 8-21 defeat.

The match headed to the deciding game, which was fought almost on level terms. However, Sindhu upped the ante and landed the decisive blow to earn a place in the Round of 16.

Meanwhile, in the women's doubles event, the Panda sisters, Rutaparna and Swetaparna, faced a stern challenge against the experienced Hong Kong China duo and concluded their campaign. They were ousted convincingly with a 12-21, 13-21 defeat.

India's top-ranked shuttler duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty cruised into the Round of 16 with consummate ease.

In their Round of 32 clash, Satwik and Chirag hardly broke a sweat and wrapped up the contest on an emphatic note with a 21-13, 21-9 triumph over the Japanese pair of Kenya Mitsuhashi and Hiroki Okamura in 31 minutes.

Before entering the fixture, the Indian duo had never lost a game against the Japanese pair, ensuring their flawless run remained intact. They hardly gave anything away and stamped their authority with their relentless approach in straight games.

Earlier in the tournament, Lakshya Sen's campaign concluded on a bitter note while HS Prannoy barely managed to conjure a way and crawled to victory.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Excited for the all-Indian clash between Unnati and Sindhu! Though I support Sindhu, I won't mind if the young gun causes an upset. Healthy competition is good for Indian sports.
R
Rohit P
Satwik-Chirag continue their dominance! These boys are making us proud tournament after tournament. Hope they bring home another title this time 💪
S
Sarah B
As an expat living in India, I'm amazed by the depth of talent in Indian badminton. The way Sindhu fought back after losing the second game shows why she's a champion!
K
Karthik V
While the wins are great, I'm concerned about Lakshya Sen's form. He needs to work on his consistency. The BAI should provide him with better support staff to regain his form.
D
Divya L
The Panda sisters gave their best but experience matters in doubles. They'll learn from this defeat. More exposure tours will help them improve. Keep going girls! 👏
M
Michael C
Watching Indian badminton evolve has been incredible. From just 1-2 players to having multiple contenders in every category - what a transformation in last decade!

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