India’s emerging badminton stars Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda continued their impressive runs at the Taipei Open Super 300 tournament, booking their places in the quarterfinals of the men’s and women’s singles events, respectively, on Thursday.
Ayush, 20, showcased grit and maturity as he outlasted veteran compatriot Kidambi Srikanth 21-16, 15-21, 21-17 in a pulsating second-round encounter. The win marks another significant milestone for the 2023 World Junior Championships bronze medallist, who had already caused a stir by defeating All England runner-up Lee Chia Hao in the opening round.
Srikanth, once ranked world No. 1 and a 2021 World Championships silver medallist, entered the match with experience on his side but currently sits at No. 82 in the world rankings. Despite a valiant effort to force a decider, the seasoned shuttler couldn’t keep pace with the energetic Ayush, who pulled off clutch plays at critical moments.
In the deciding game, Ayush built an early 7-3 lead, only to see Srikanth fight back and level the scores at 13-13. But the youngster remained composed under pressure, drawing on his newfound confidence to pull ahead in the closing exchanges and seal the win.
Ayush will now face Canada’s seventh seed Brian Yang in the quarterfinals — a promising yet stern test for the rising Indian.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Unnati Hooda delivered a clinical performance against Chinese Taipei’s Lin Sih Yun, winning 21-12, 21-7 in just 27 minutes. The Odisha Masters 2022 and Abu Dhabi Masters 2023 champion was in total control from the outset, dictating the tempo with sharp net play and powerful smashes.
Unnati will next face local favourite Hung Yi-Ting in the last-eight stage, where another strong showing could further enhance her growing reputation on the world stage.
However, the tournament campaign ended for Tharun Mannepalli. The 2023 National Games gold medallist fell short against Indonesia’s Moh Zaki Ubaidillah, going down 13-21, 9-21 in straight games. Despite the loss, Mannepalli’s presence in the main draw reflected the depth of emerging talent in Indian badminton.
As Ayush and Unnati prepare for their quarterfinal matches, their impressive displays have signaled a promising shift in Indian badminton’s next generation, eager to make their mark on the international circuit.
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