India will have a strong presence in the finals of the Odisha Masters as Isharani Baruah, women’s singles top seed Unnati Hooda, and men’s singles second seed Kiran George secured their places in the title clashes with determined performances in the semifinals at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Cuttack on Friday.
The semifinal stage produced high-quality contests, with all three Indian finalists pushed to dig deep before sealing their victories. In the women’s singles, the spotlight will now fall on an all-Indian final between Isharani Baruah and Unnati Hooda, while Kiran George will carry India’s hopes in the men’s singles against Indonesia’s Muhamad Yusuf.
Isharani Baruah was the first Indian to confirm her place in the final, overcoming a stern challenge from Tanya Hemanth.
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The match began with Tanya dictating terms in the opening game, using her attacking intent and control at the net to edge it 21–18. Isharani, however, responded with composure and clarity, dramatically shifting the momentum in her favour.
From the second game onwards, Isharani raised her intensity, tightening her defence and forcing errors from her opponent. She raced through the next two games 21–7, 21–7, turning the semifinal into a one-sided affair after the initial setback. The match lasted 54 minutes, with Isharani’s ability to regroup after losing the opening game emerging as the decisive factor.
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Her emphatic comeback not only underlined her growing confidence but also set up a highly anticipated final clash.
Awaiting her in the women’s singles final will be top seed Unnati Hooda, who continued her consistent run with a composed victory over Tasnim Mir. Tasnim had been one of the standout performers of the tournament, having upset higher-ranked players earlier in the week, and she once again showed her quality by taking the opening game 21–18.
Unnati, however, responded with maturity beyond her years. She improved her court coverage and began controlling the rallies, gradually wearing Tasnim down. The top seed claimed the second and third games 21–16, 21–16 to seal the contest in 60 minutes.
Unnati’s ability to absorb pressure and turn the match around reflected her growing stature on the domestic circuit, and she now stands one win away from the title.
The men’s singles semifinal also delivered a gripping contest, with second seed Kiran George facing compatriot Rounak Chouhan in an all-Indian battle. Kiran made a solid start, edging a tight first game 21–19 through better shot selection at crucial moments. Rounak responded emphatically in the second, dominating proceedings to take the game 21–8 and force a decider.
In the final game, Kiran displayed calm under pressure, regaining control of the rallies and maintaining a narrow lead throughout. He eventually closed out the match 21–18 to secure his place in the final after 53 minutes of intense play. Kiran will now face Indonesia’s Muhamad Yusuf in the men’s singles final, as he looks to cap off his campaign with a title.
India’s challenge in the doubles events, however, came to an end at the semifinal stage. In mixed doubles, Sathwik Reddy and Reshika Uthayasooryan were unable to progress, while the women’s doubles pairing of Ashwini Bhat and Shikha Gautam also bowed out after their semifinal defeat. Despite the setbacks in doubles, India’s strong showing in singles ensured a positive day overall for the home contingent.
With two Indians set to contest the women’s singles final and Kiran George carrying the men’s singles hopes, the Odisha Masters is poised for an exciting conclusion.
The performances in the semifinals highlighted both the depth and resilience of India’s emerging talent, setting the stage for a compelling final day in Cuttack.
