Unnati Hooda falls to Michelle Li in BWF World Championships battle

India’s 18-year-old Unnati Hooda exited the BWF World Championships in the Round-of-32 after a close three-game match against Canada’s Michelle Li at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

Hooda, ranked world No. 26, won the opening game 21-11 before Li responded with a 21-9 victory in the second. The deciding game was highly competitive, with Hooda holding a match point at 20-19, but Li ultimately secured the win 23-21.

Following the match, Hooda expressed disappointment over missed opportunities in the final game but noted her satisfaction with her overall performance during her championship debut. Her tournament run began with a victory over Myanmar’s Thet Htar Thuzar.