2025: Her Year – Unnati, Tanvi may not have natural gifts of PV Sindhu, but are silently plotting their journeys in badminton’s upper echelons

When Unnati Hooda defeated PV Sindhu at the China Open in June and later moved to World No 23 in the December 15 rankings, it wasn’t merely a career milestone for the 18-year-old. There have been a bunch of India No 2s behind the world-beating Sindhu in rankings. Saina Nehwal, Ashmita Chaliha and most recently Malvika Bansod. But even as 5 ranking spots separate Unnati from Sindhu, and it might well take a few months for Unnati to edge ahead of the veteran, securing that mental advantage held significance like it would for a pugilist challenging for a heavyweight title.  

Unnati had a plan against Sindhu, a former World No 2, and she could execute it to perfection at a Super 1000. It takes some audacity to believe in it, and the Haryanvi went about it with fearless humility, that was evident in how she viewed the win later: Sindhu was a top international competitor, but there were bigger fish to fry from around the world, she respectfully stated. 

Make no mistake, India is not about to luck out anytime soon, and find itself in the enviable scenario of 10 years ago, when Sindhu seamlessly stepped into the niche where Saina Nehwal reigned, right into Olympic medals realm. 2026 is not 2016. Neither Unnati, nor the other big young hope, Tanvi Sharma, would call 2025 a breakthrough year – that’s still some distance away. But 2026 will answer a few straight-up questions.

Can the promising duo make the jump from Top 25 to Top 10, without the natural strength and power that Sindhu possessed?

Can Unnati and Tanvi really get into the Saina-Sindhu stratosphere without guidance of coach Pullela Gopichand?

The answers have flitted through their brains, at several points in time, this year.

ALSO READ | Unnati Hooda after defeating PV Sindhu at China Open- ‘I stayed patient’, Sindhu says, ‘She got lucky with net chords’

Earlier this year, before she lost the World Juniors final to Thai Anyapat Phichitpreechasak, Tanvi was in the semifinals of the Asian juniors, losing out to a Chinese. “When you play them you realise they are OK only…but we lack in physical strength, and aren’t mentally as strong,” she would say. Still only 17, her losses in finals at US Open and World Juniors, might get excused away legitimately, as inexperience. 

An above-average stroke-player, diligent in training too, Tanvi is perhaps on par with exceptional talents of her age from around the world. But can she build that exceptional deception of Tai Tzu-ying, explosive agility of Yamaguchi or the astute aggression, backed by top-tier stamina and speed of Chen Yufei or Marin, that helped them all beat Sindhu at her peak – is the poser that needs answering from coaches Park Tae-sang & Co in 2026, when it is evident that she is neither going to match Sindhu in power or reach. 

It’s mostly the same for Unnati, though she carries that X-factor when on a very good day of accuracy and attacking play for her, and a very off day for her opponent, she can be expected to turn the knife, with no nerves. Error-prone, with a knack of bunching up her mistakes in a clump and frittering leads, she tends to be.

But world champ Akane Yamaguchi had confessed Unnati could take unsuspecting opponents by surprise, if they weren’t careful. Still, the physicality metrics aren’t exactly top notch, though that’s more from her having been resistant to seeking help, and maxing out her father’s coaching abilities, needing a far more pro training set-up. 

ALSO READ | Despite defeat in US Open badminton final, Tanvi Sharma shows enough promise of carrying Sindhu-Saina legacy

Fitness is queen

No coach except Pullela Gopichand has actually delivered champions in women’s singles, and even he would tell the duo how no amount of chiseling of their games will amount to anything substantial, unless their fitness is top-tier. Plateaus are the rule, dizzy heights exceptions in women’s singles. And an outstanding array of strokes, tactical nous, defensive compactness, attacking intent and even exceptional fitness are only basic requirements to put together a game, worthy of titles and medals. 

Though it cannot be standardised across different body-frames, the women’s singles game demands a few fitness fundamentals – the smash kill, first, second and even fifth, need the stinging punch. Long rallies don’t come gift-wrapped in promises of the next one being any gentler. Both Tanvi and Unnati have faded massively towards second half of mid-games with Top 10 opponents, and are washed out in deciders.

Sindhu at the Glasgow World’s finals, is the golden fitness standard, and she still finished with silver. Ankles, knees, back and wrists are war-zones; they break and wreck careers. Every other shuttler from China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan is undergoing excruciating S&C drills. You need to assume this, and train smartly, because they draw their mental strength from this fitness base. 

The coming years thus, will solely pan out depending on how Tanvi and Unnati progress physically, for their games hold no quibbles. One of the two might well head to the 2028 Los Angeles Games, given how determined they both are. “But I need to beat all top players in the world, not just Sindhu,” Unnati had said. Even she knew, it’s neither easy said-nor easily done.