The China Open 2025 is currently underway at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Changzhou, China. Several Indian players are participating in this BWF Super 1000 tournament. Amongst them, PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda have both advanced to the Round of 16 in the women's singles category, setting up an all-Indian clash.
PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist and former world champion, has been struggling to find her peak form this season. Currently ranked No. 15 in the world, Sindhu is looking to regain her confidence and momentum at the China Open. In her opening match, Sindhu faced a tough challenge from Japan's Tomoka Miyazaki, the world No. 6. After a thrilling match that lasted over an hour, Sindhu emerged victorious with a score of 21-17, 8-21, 21-15. This win was particularly significant for Sindhu as it marked her first victory against a top-10 ranked opponent this season. Sindhu expressed her satisfaction with the win, stating that it gave her a lot of belief and that she needs to maintain this momentum moving forward. She also emphasized the importance of staying positive and patient throughout the match, which contributed to her consistency and reduced unforced errors.
Unnati Hooda, a 17-year-old rising star in Indian badminton, has been making waves on the international circuit. Currently ranked No. 35 in the world, Unnati is considered one of India's most promising young talents. In her first-round match at the China Open 2025, Unnati delivered a commanding performance against experienced Scottish shuttler Kirsty Gilmour, winning in straight games 21-11, 21-16. Unnati's exceptional composure, skillful net play, and well-placed smashes were key to her victory. Her ability to control the pace of rallies and draw errors from Gilmour, a two-time Commonwealth Games medalist, was also notable.
The upcoming match between PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda in the Round of 16 is highly anticipated, as it represents a clash between experience and youth. Sindhu leads their head-to-head record 1-0, with their only encounter taking place at the Syed Modi Super 300 in Lucknow last year. Sindhu won that match 21-12, 21-9 in 36 minutes. Unnati has acknowledged Sindhu's attacking style and the need for a strong defense to counter her smashes. However, she remains optimistic about her chances and believes that she can be strategically at her best to create an upset.
Other Indian players have also made progress at the China Open 2025. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, the world No. 12 men's doubles pair, cruised into the Round of 16 with a dominant 21-13, 21-9 victory over Japan's Kenya Mitsuhashi and Hiroki Okamura. However, the women's doubles duo Rutaparna and Swetaparna Panda faced a tough challenge and were ousted in the first round. HS Prannoy had a sensational comeback to advance. Lakshya Sen was ousted in the first round.
The PV Sindhu vs Unnati Hooda match is estimated to begin at 1.10 pm IST and will be played as the ninth match on Court 2.
