Ayush Shetty Stuns Srikanth Kidambi to Enter Taipei Open Quarterfinals; Unnati Hooda Joins the Party
Indian badminton saw a youth revolution unfold at the 2025 Yonex Taipei Open Super 300, as two of the country’s brightest young talents—Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda—booked their places in the quarterfinals with standout performances on Thursday.
Ayush Shetty Topples Former World No. 1 Srikanth Kidambi
In what can be described as a generational clash, 20-year-old Ayush Shetty outclassed the experienced Srikanth Kidambi in a thrilling three-game contest that lasted just over an hour. Shetty prevailed with a scoreline of 21-16, 15-21, 21-17, showing composure beyond his years in the decisive moments.
Ranked World No. 44, Shetty has now beaten Srikanth for the second time in 2025, taking a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head record.
The performance not only highlights the rise of a new Indian contender in the men’s singles category but also underlines the changing guard in Indian badminton.
What made the victory sweeter for Shetty was his path to the quarterfinals. He had already made headlines earlier in the tournament by defeating the third seed and World No. 13 from Chinese Taipei in the first round. With this momentum, Shetty is now eyeing his second semi-final of the season on the BWF World Tour.
He will now face Canada’s Brian Yang in the quarterfinal on Friday. This will be their first career meeting, and with WR20 Shuo Han already eliminated from the top half, the draw has opened up nicely for the Indian youngster.
Clinical Unnati Hooda Storms into QFs
India’s 17-year-old prodigy Unnati Hooda also impressed on Thursday with a commanding win in the women’s singles second round.
Hooda, ranked World No. 53, dismantled Lin Sih-Yun of Chinese Taipei 21-2, 21-17, securing a spot in her second quarterfinal of 2025, after previously reaching the last eight at the German Open earlier this year.
Unnati’s court coverage, confidence, and mature shot selection have been on full display this week. Her quarterfinal opponent, Hung Yi-Ting, also from Chinese Taipei, will be under pressure—especially after the seventh seed, WR20 Shuo Han, was knocked out, leaving this section of the draw wide open.
A win on Friday would see Unnati reach her first BWF World Tour semi-final of the season, a significant milestone in her burgeoning career.
Mixed Fortunes for India in Men’s Singles
While Shetty shone, fellow Indian Tharun Mannepalli couldn’t replicate the same form and bowed out in the second round. He lost 13-21, 9-21 to Indonesia’s Ubaidillah in a 34-minute match where he struggled to find rhythm against the aggressive and accurate play of his opponent.
Quarterfinal Schedule for Indians
As seen in the official match schedule, both Ayush and Unnati will feature on Court 2 in Friday’s quarterfinals:
- Unnati Hooda vs Hung Yi-Ting – 2:30 PM IST
- Ayush Shetty vs Brian Yang – 4:10 PM IST
Live streaming on BWF YouTube.
These quarterfinals offer an exciting chance for India to field two singles semifinalists at a BWF Super 300 event, showcasing the bench strength and potential of the new generation.
With both Shetty and Hooda rising rapidly through the ranks, India’s badminton future looks promising. Shetty’s victory over a player of Srikanth’s calibre—once a World No. 1 and World Championship medalist—is more than just a personal achievement; it’s a signal that Indian badminton is evolving with fearless young talent ready to take on the world.
Similarly, Unnati’s consistent performances throughout 2025 are laying the foundation for what could be a breakthrough year for the teenager.
Whether or not they go further at the Taipei Open, Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda have already sent a strong message: India’s next badminton wave is not coming—it’s already here.
