After overcoming one of the best young players in the world in 18-year-old Tomoka Miyazaki, PV Sindhu next faces one of the rising talent in Indian badminton, the 17-year-old Unnati Hooda at China Open in the round of 16 on Thursday. Sindhu, once world No 2, has moved down the rankings in recent times and is placed No 15 in the world now.
Meanwhile, Unnati has steadily climbed the ladder and is India’s No 3 now, ranked No 35 in the world. Unnati has had a decent year on the tour, finding her feet while competing at the senior level, as she reached the semifinals at Taipei Open, where she incidentally lost against Miyazaki, despite holding a decent lead in the opening game. She had also reached the quarterfinal at German Open, where former junior world champion Riko Gunji defeated her in a marathon.
Head-to-head: Sindhu leads 1-0
In Lucknow last year at the Syed Modi Super 300, Unnati didn’t know who she would be meeting in the semifinal when she was speaking to reporters after her quarterfinal win against USA’s Ishika Jaiswal. But she had a fair idea as PV Sindhu was leading in her match. Unnati was excited about the prospect of the first meeting against the legendary figure of Indian badminton. “I guess it will be Sindhu di, and it will be my first ever meeting against her,” the 17-year-old from Rohtak beamed. “I am really excited. I have been in the Uber Cup team with her. She has achieved so much in her career, she is an idol for every young Indian shuttler.”
On the international circuit, Sindhu and Unnati have played just once: at Syed Modi Super 300 in Lucknow last year. Despite offering some brief glimpses of her talent, Unnati just couldn’t land any sustained punches on Sindhu who won 21-12 21-9 in just 36 minutes. “She was quite attacking,” Unnati recalled about that match. “You got to have a very good defense to pick her smashes. But there is a chance. There are areas. I need to be strategically at my best.” Ashwini Ponnappa, India’s doubles legend, was commentating during that match and felt that Unnati would have been better off not going for the lines repeatedly and instead of pushing too hard for winners, could try to keep the shuttle in play. In what has been very drifty conditions so far in Changzhou, that could well be the key for the youngster: to control the errors.
“I try to keep it same whether I’m playing No 1 or No 2. Stick to the plan. I’m not taking pressure to be the next Sindhu. It’s my own distinct journey. I definitely need to achieve what they did, but I’m aware it will be a difficult journey. But uniquely mine,” Unnati Hooda had said in a recent interview to The Indian Express
What time is PV Sindhu vs Unnati Hooda?
The match is estimated to begin at 1.10 pm IST and will be played as the ninth match on Court 2. With only 8 matches on Court 2 scheduled for official broadcast, this match will be streamed live on BWF TV’s YouTube channel.
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