Unnati Hooda Credits Father Upkar for Badminton Rise

Unnati Hooda has credited her father and mentor, Upkar Hooda, for playing a central role in her rise in badminton after the teenager opened her debut BWF World Championships campaign with a 22-20, 21-16 victory over Myanmar’s Thet Htar Thuzar.

The 18-year-old from Rohtak said her family, and particularly her father, has made a massive contribution to her journey. Upkar Hooda, a former university-level player, left his government college job to train and travel with his daughter full-time and was in her corner for the first-round match.

Father remains a key figure in Hooda’s journey

Hooda now trains at Chhotu Ram Stadium Badminton Academy in Rohtak under coach Parvesh Kumar, but she said her father remains her biggest inspiration. Asked who was in the dugout during her opening match, Hooda confirmed that it was her father and said she is currently training with him.

She said she was not forced into the sport and expressed gratitude for the support around her. Hooda noted that Upkar’s decision to quit his job underlined the commitment her family has made to her badminton career.

Hooda also acknowledged the support of Reliance Foundation, saying it has been a significant help during her journey over the past three years.

Her victory over Thet Htar Thuzar gave her a winning start at the World Championships, but the contest was not without pressure. Hooda edged the first game 22-20 before taking the second 21-16 to complete the straight-games result.

Michelle Li next as Hooda focuses on patience

Hooda’s next challenge will be against Canada’s 13th seed Michelle Li. The Indian said she was not overawed by the scale of her first World Championships appearance and intended to focus on her own game, give her all and enjoy the occasion.

She also pointed to Ayush Shetty’s upset win over world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi as a source of confidence for Indian players. Hooda said the result showed that matches are decided one against one on court and that players should believe in themselves.

For Hooda, patience will be an important factor in the conditions. She said controlling her nerves and staying patient had helped her during her first-round win, particularly in the latter stages of the match. She added that drift conditions can be difficult but felt they were manageable when judging whether the shuttle would land in or go out.

The win has given Hooda a platform at her first World Championships, while her comments highlighted the close role her father continues to play in her development. With Michelle Li up next, Hooda will look to carry the same composure and belief into her next match.