Unnati Hooda Bows Out Of World Championships After Thriller Against Michelle Li

India’s Unnati Hooda bowed out of the BWF World Championships 2026 after a narrow three-game defeat to Canada’s Michelle Li in the women’s singles Round of 32 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old Indian, making her World Championships debut, pushed the experienced 13th seed to the limit before Li prevailed 11-21, 21-9, 23-21 in a contest decided by fine margins.

Hooda made an impressive start, taking control of the rallies with her attacking game and putting Li under sustained pressure. She quickly established a sizeable lead and closed out the opening game 21-11.

Li responded strongly in the second, finding greater consistency and disrupting Hooda’s rhythm. The Canadian dominated the game 21-9 to level the contest and force a decider.

The final game developed into a gripping battle, with neither player able to establish a decisive advantage. Hooda continued to find success with her attacking strokes, while Li used her experience and effective net play to create opportunities. The Indian had chances to close out the match but Li held her nerve in the closing exchanges to win 23-21.

Reflecting on the defeat, Hooda acknowledged that she had let opportunities slip away.

“I had two advantages and couldn’t convert the match. I am happy with the way that I played the whole match, but I am sad that I could have converted it into a really good win,” Hooda said.

She also pointed to the front-court exchanges as a crucial aspect of the contest, saying both players were able to create attacking chances through their net play.

Hooda had reached the Round of 32 after beating Myanmar’s Thet Htar Thuzar 22-20, 21-16 in her opening match.

The teenager’s campaign nevertheless represents a valuable step in her development. She was among India’s young debutants at the championships, which returned to the country after 17 years, with the 2026 edition being held in New Delhi from August 17 to 23.

Despite the early exit, Hooda’s spirited performance against a seeded and more experienced opponent offered further evidence of her growing stature in international badminton.