Taipei Open 2026: Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma storm into semis, all-Indian final alive
Synopsis
Two Indian women in opposite halves of the Taipei Open 2026 draw, both through to the semis — the all-Indian final is no longer just a possibility, it is one good evening away. Unnati Hooda's first World Tour semifinal of the year and Tanvi Sharma's second Super 300 last-four appearance of the season signal that India's women's singles pipeline is maturing at exactly the right time before the 2026 Asian Games.
Key Takeaways
Unnati Hooda (world No.
28 ) beat eighth seed Devika Sihag 23-21, 21-16 in 42 minutes to reach her first BWF World Tour semifinal of 2026 .
Tanvi Sharma (world No.
34 ) defeated fourth seed Supanida Katethong of Thailand 21-15, 18-21, 21-14 in 54 minutes — her second BWF Super 300 semifinal of the season.
The two Indians are in opposite halves of the draw, keeping an all-Indian final alive at the Taipei Open 2026 .
Both players are named in India's squad for the 2026 Asian Games , making this run especially timely.
Kiran George lost to fourth seed Yudai Okimoto 21-12, 21-10 , ending India's men's singles campaign at the quarterfinal stage.
Indian shuttlers Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma both advanced to the women's singles semifinals of the Taipei Open 2026 on Friday, 31 July, keeping the prospect of a historic all-Indian final firmly alive at the BWF Super 300 tournament held at the Taipei Arena.
Unnati Hooda's Composed Quarter-Final Win
Unnati Hooda, ranked 28th in the world, delivered a controlled performance in an all-Indian quarter-final clash, defeating eighth seed Devika Sihag 23-21, 21-16 in 42 minutes. The victory marks a significant milestone for Unnati — her first BWF World Tour semifinal of the 2026 season, having failed to progress beyond the first round in any of her previous World Tour appearances this year. This win signals a timely upturn in form for the young Indian.
Tanvi Sharma Fights Back in Three Games
World No. 34 Tanvi Sharma produced a gritty three-game comeback to eliminate fourth seed Supanida Katethong of Thailand, winning 21-15, 18-21, 21-14 in a hard-fought contest lasting 54 minutes. Having dropped the second game, Tanvi regrouped to close out the decider convincingly. This result marks her second BWF Super 300 semifinal of the season — she had previously reached the last four at the Orleans Masters — underlining her growing consistency on the World Tour circuit.
Path to a Potential All-Indian Final
With the two Indians placed in opposite halves of the draw, an all-Indian final remains a genuine possibility. Unnati faces sixth seed Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam in the semifinals, while Tanvi takes on fifth seed and home favourite Huang Yu-Hsun of Chinese Taipei. Notably, Huang reached the semis by beating second seed and compatriot Lin Hsiang-ti — the same player who had earlier knocked out India's Ashmita Chaliha and Anmol Kharb. Nguyen also progressed after defeating top seed Chiu Pin-Chian in the quarterfinals.
Asian Games Context Adds Extra Weight
Both Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma are part of India's squad for the 2026 Asian Games. Their performances in Taipei arrive at an ideal moment, offering a confidence boost ahead of the continental showpiece. A deep run — or better, a final — would send a strong signal about India's women's singles depth on the global stage.
Men's Campaign Ends at Quarterfinals
India's men's singles challenge concluded when Kiran George fell to fourth-seeded Japanese shuttler Yudai Okimoto 21-12, 21-10 in the quarterfinals. HS Prannoy had already exited in the Round of 16, leaving Kiran as India's last men's singles hope. The men's doubles pair of Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu had been eliminated in the first round earlier in the week, rounding off a mixed campaign for India's men.
Point of View
A strong finish in Taipei could shift selection conversations and raise their seedings heading into the continent's biggest multi-sport stage. The men's campaign, meanwhile, ended tamely — Kiran George's straight-games loss to Okimoto and Prannoy's early exit expose a depth problem that one tournament will not fix.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma at the Taipei Open 2026?
Unnati Hooda (world No. 28) and Tanvi Sharma (world No. 34) are Indian badminton players who both advanced to the women's singles semifinals of the Taipei Open 2026, a BWF Super 300 event, on 31 July. Their simultaneous progress has kept alive the prospect of an all-Indian final.
How did Unnati Hooda win her quarterfinal at Taipei Open 2026?
Unnati Hooda defeated eighth seed Devika Sihag 23-21, 21-16 in 42 minutes in an all-Indian quarterfinal at the Taipei Arena. It is her first BWF World Tour semifinal of the 2026 season.
How did Tanvi Sharma reach the Taipei Open 2026 semifinals?
Tanvi Sharma beat fourth seed Supanida Katethong of Thailand 21-15, 18-21, 21-14 in 54 minutes, recovering from dropping the second game. It is her second BWF Super 300 semifinal of the season, having earlier reached the last four at the Orleans Masters.
Is an all-Indian final possible at Taipei Open 2026?
Yes. Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma are in opposite halves of the draw. Unnati faces sixth seed Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam, while Tanvi plays fifth seed and home favourite Huang Yu-Hsun of Chinese Taipei in the semifinals.
How did India's men perform at Taipei Open 2026?
India's men's campaign ended at the quarterfinal stage when Kiran George lost to fourth seed Yudai Okimoto of Japan 21-12, 21-10. HS Prannoy had exited in the Round of 16, and the doubles pair of Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu fell in the first round.
