Teenage sensation Tanvi Sharma continued her remarkable run at the Syed Modi International Super 300, storming into the women’s singles semifinals and reinforcing her status as one of India’s most exciting emerging talents.
On a day filled with contrasting fortunes for top seeds, Unnati Hooda battled her way through a three-game thriller, while Singapore’s men’s top seed Jia Heng Jason Teh bowed out in the quarterfinals. The tournament now heads toward a compelling semifinal lineup across events, with several Indian shuttlers still in contention.
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Just 16 years old, Tanvi has been the story of the tournament so far. After her stunning upset of former world champion Nozomi Okuhara, she backed it up with another assured performance—this time against Hong Kong’s Lo Sin Yan Happy. Tanvi controlled the tempo from the outset, winning 21-13, 21-19 in 38 minutes, displaying a maturity well beyond her years.
Her crisp net play and ability to accelerate rallies at will left Lo struggling to stay in touch, especially in the opening game. Though Lo mounted a late push in the second, Tanvi remained composed, sealing the match on her second opportunity.
The victory sets up a semifinal clash against Japan’s Hina Akechi, the fifth seed, who delivered one of the day’s biggest statements by dismantling third seed Sung Shuo Yun 21-8, 21-15. Akechi’s steady, attacking badminton promises a stern test, but Tanvi’s current form and confidence suggest she is ready for another major challenge.
Unnati Hooda Survives All-Indian Clash
In the top half, Unnati Hooda advanced after a hard-fought win over compatriot Rakshitha Sree Santosh R, prevailing 21-15, 13-21, 21-16. The match showcased the promise of India’s next generation, with both players displaying impressive athleticism and tactical variety.
Unnati controlled the first game with better length and sharper movement but struggled to maintain consistency in the second as Rakshitha capitalised on a phase of errors to level the match. In the decider, however, the 17-year-old tightened her game, pushed the tempo early, and protected her lead with structured attacking play. Unnati now faces fourth seed Neslihan Arin of Turkey, who defeated India’s Isharani Baruah 21-19, 13-21, 21-15. Arin’s physicality and strong rear-court presence will challenge Unnati, making their semifinal a fascinating contrast in style.
Mixed Day in Men’s Singles: Teh Falls, Srikanth Progresses
The men’s singles draw produced its biggest upset when top seed Jia Heng Jason Teh exited after a gruelling three-game battle against Japan’s Minoru Koga. Teh went down 19-21, 21-12, 20-22 in a match lasting over an hour. Despite recovering well in the second game, Teh struggled to contain Koga’s attacking variations in the dying stages of the decider.
Koga will now face Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan in the semifinals after Gunawan delivered a composed 21-14, 21-17 win in his quarterfinal. The bottom half will see an all-Indian semifinal, with Kidambi Srikanth set to take on Mithun Manjunath. Srikanth progressed after compatriot Priyanshu Rajawat retired mid-match due to injury, trailing 21-14, 11-4. Before the retirement, Srikanth had looked sharp controlling rallies with his trademark forehand and quick net interceptions.
Mithun earned his place in the last four with a confident 21-18, 21-13 win over Manraj Singh, maintaining control throughout and displaying his improved defensive structure. Their semifinal promises a tactical battle between Srikanth’s experienced, aggressive rhythm and Mithun’s counter-punching solidity.
India Shines in Doubles: Treesa–Gayatri Lead the Charge
In women’s doubles, top seeds Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly advanced comfortably with a 21-15, 21-16 victory over Turkey’s Bengisu Ercetin and Nazlican Inci. The Indian pair dominated the front court exchanges and used their superior rotation to keep the Turkish duo under pressure.
Treesa’s campaign continues on two fronts, as she also entered the mixed doubles semifinals with partner Hariharan Amsakarunan. The pair defeated Australia’s Andika Ramadiansyah and Nozomi Shimizu 21-18, 21-14 with a confident performance that underlined their improving synergy.
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With Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda, Srikanth, Mithun Manjunath, and the doubles pairs all advancing, India enters the semifinal day with strong representation across categories. For Tanvi and Unnati, the tournament has already been a breakthrough moment; for Srikanth and the doubles stars, it marks a continuation of their push toward consistency.
The Syed Modi Super 300 now moves toward a decisive weekend, with Indian shuttlers poised for one of their most promising collective campaigns in recent editions.
