Thrillers, Comebacks & Grit: Indian Trio March into R16 at Thailand Open 2025
The Indian women’s singles contingent put up a gritty display at the Thailand Open Super 500, with Unnati Hooda, Aakarshi Kashyap, and Malvika Bansod battling past stiff opponents to storm into the Round of 16.
Each of their victories was a test of temperament, endurance, and mental steel, setting up a fascinating second round, all against home-favourite Thai shuttlers.
Unnati Hooda Wins a Pulsating Three-Game Battle
In what was arguably the match of the day, Unnati Hooda edged out Thailand’s Thamonwan Nithiittikrai in a roller-coaster clash: 21-14, 18-21, 23-21.
After clinching the opening game comfortably, Unnati faced a fierce comeback from the Thai youngster who levelled the match and held a 20-18 lead in the decider.
But Unnati’s calm under pressure stood out. She saved two match points and strung together five of the last six points to seal a sensational victory.
“Despite trailing for most part of the decider and especially 18-20, Unnati held her nerve and turned it around in style.
Kudos to Thamonwan, who gave her all but fell just short,” read one social media post summarizing the high-voltage thriller.
She now faces a massive challenge against the top seed Pornpawee Chochuwong in the Round of 16. But if today’s resilience is anything to go by, Unnati won’t go down without a fight.
Malvika Bansod Fights Past Neslihan Arin
Malvika Bansod joined Unnati in the next round with a see-saw win over Turkey’s Neslihan Arin: 21-12, 13-21, 21-17.
It was a match of shifting momentum. Malvika started strongly, but Arin stormed back in the second game. The decider, however, saw the Indian maintain her composure during the tight points.
Her court coverage and retrieval under pressure were crucial in the final stretch.
Next up for Malvika is a marquee clash against seventh seed Ratchanok Intanon, a former world champion and local favourite. It’s a huge opportunity for Malvika to test herself against an elite opponent on her home turf.
Aakarshi Kashyap’s 73-Minute Marathon Victory
In yet another nail-biting contest, Aakarshi Kashyap prevailed over Japan’s Kaoru Sugiyama in a 73-minute dogfight: 21-16, 20-22, 22-20.
After winning the first game, Aakarshi looked set to close the match in straight games but allowed Sugiyama to claw back late in the second. The third was a thriller. Trailing 16-18, Aakarshi flipped the script with aggressive rallies and well-timed smashes to make it 20-18, and eventually closed it 22-20.
Aakarshi now faces fourth seed Supanida Katethong, another tough Thai opponent in front of a home crowd.
Next Round: Thailand Awaits
India’s remaining trio now face the host nation’s top players:
- Unnati Hooda vs Pornpawee Chochuwong [1]
- Malvika Bansod vs Ratchanok Intanon [7]
- Aakarshi Kashyap vs Supanida Katethong [4]
Each match is expected to be fiercely contested, especially with the home crowd backing the seeded Thai players. But if Round 1 is any indication, the Indian shuttlers are here to challenge expectations.
