Unnati Hooda scripts history, becomes only third Indian woman to break into BWF Top 20

Unnati Hooda's entry into the BWF Top 20 is a landmark moment for Indian badminton, as she joins Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu as the only Indian women to reach this milestone under the modern ranking system (since 2009). On May 5, 2026, she officially reached a career-high world ranking of No. 19, fueled by a series of high-profile wins against top-tier opponents. Hooda’s ascent was accelerated by several key performances on the international circuit. At the 2025 China Open (Super 1000), she made global headlines by defeating two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu in a grueling three-game pre-quarterfinal. In April 2026, she stunned world No. 11 Supanida Katethong at the Badminton Asia Championships, overcoming a first-game loss to win 23-25, 21-8,

21-18.

She captured her third senior World Tour title at the 2025 Odisha Masters and followed it with a victory at the 2026 Polish Open. Representing India at the 2026 Uber Cup, she delivered a crucial opening win against Ukraine’s Polina Buhrova. She claimed the Polish Open 2026 title in dramatic fashion, defeating Ukraine’s Polina Buhrova in the final. After a shaky start where she lost the first set 10-21, she displayed incredible mental grit to win the next two 21-15, 21-8.

𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞!📈 A rising star in Indian badminton, Unnati Hooda, climbs to 19th in women’s singles in the latest BWF Rankings. She’s only the third Indian to break into the top 20 in the world after the legendary Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu.#RFSports #LetsPlay… pic.twitter.com/eCwUHiJKfO

— RelianceFoundationSports (@RFYouthSports) May 5, 2026

Unnati Hooda beats Li Hsiang-Ti at Hylo Open

At the Hylo Open 2025, Unnati Hooda pulled off a major upset by defeating fourth seed Lin Hsiang-Ti in straight games to reach her first-ever BWF Super 500 semi-final. The victory was particularly sweet as it allowed the then 17-year-old to avenge her earlier loss to the same opponent at the 2025 Malaysia Masters. After a nail-biting first game that went to extra points (22-20), Hooda dominated the second set, showcasing superior speed and composure.

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The opening set was a high-stakes battle where Hooda trailed frequently. However, she displayed "nerves of steel," saving game points to snatch the set 22-20. After the side change, Hooda seized complete control. She utilised superior net play and speed to force unforced errors, cruising to a 21-13 finish. Unnati was the lone Indian survivor in the tournament following the exits of top stars like Lakshya Sen and Kiran George in the quarter-finals.