World No. 25 Unnati Hooda made an early exit from the China Masters 2024 on Tuesday, 1 September, falling to South Korea's Kim Ga-eun (world No. 12) 21-10, 21-18 in just 37 minutes in the women's singles first round at the Shenzhen Sports Centre Gymnasium. The defeat marks the end of the 18-year-old's campaign at the BWF Super 750 event before it could gain momentum.

How the Match Unfolded

Kim dominated the opening game from the outset, racing to a 4-0 lead and extending it to a commanding 11-3 advantage at the interval. Unnati could not find a way back as the Korean dictated the pace and tempo, closing out the first game with considerable authority.

The second game offered a more competitive picture. Unnati made a spirited start, leading 3-0, before Kim gradually clawed back to take a 7-5 lead. The Indian rallied impressively to edge ahead at 15-14, keeping the match alive. However, Kim proved her class at the crucial moments — after Unnati levelled at 18-18, the Korean reeled off three consecutive points to seal the match and her place in the next round.

Kim Ga-eun's Credentials

Kim Ga-eun arrived in Shenzhen in formidable form. The South Korean claimed the Macau Open title in June this year and was also part of the South Korea squad that won gold in the women's team event at the 2023 Asian Games. This was the first career meeting between Kim and Unnati on the BWF World Tour, and the Korean's experience and consistency proved the decisive factors.

Context for Unnati Hooda

The loss comes on the heels of a promising run for Unnati, who made her debut at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi and advanced to the second round. Despite Tuesday's setback, the teenager continues to be regarded as one of India's brightest young talents on the international badminton circuit. Competing against top-12 opposition at a Super 750 event underlines both the challenge and the trajectory she is on.

Men's Doubles Setback

India also suffered disappointment in the men's doubles draw. The pair of MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan were forced to retire from their opening match against China's Chen Boyang and Liu Yi, withdrawing while trailing 11-8 in the first game. No details on the reason for the retirement were immediately available.

India's Remaining Campaign

With Unnati's exit, the focus now turns to the rest of the Indian contingent stepping onto court from Wednesday. Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, and Tanvi Sharma are all scheduled to feature, as is Devika Sihag. The headline act will be top-seeded men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who carry India's strongest medal hopes into the Super 750 event.