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Sports
PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda's defeats end India's badminton run at Asian Games 2026
✍️ Mid-Day
🗓 28 Sep 2026, 09:53 AM
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India's badminton campaign at the 2026 Asian Games concluded after PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda were eliminated in the knockout stage.
The Asian Games 2026, being staged in Nagoya, Japan, saw India's badminton hopes dashed as two of its top players were knocked out. PV Sindhu, the Olympic silver‑medallist, and rising star Unnati Hooda both suffered defeats that ended the country's run in the sport.
Sindhu's loss came in a tightly contested match that highlighted the depth of competition, while Hooda, who had been touted as a future star, could not advance beyond the early knockout round. Their exits effectively closed any realistic chance for India to win a badminton medal at these Games.
The early exit marks a disappointing finish for a nation that has traditionally been strong in badminton on the Asian stage. Coaches and officials will now turn their focus to upcoming tournaments, hoping to rebuild momentum for the next major event.
Sindhu's loss came in a tightly contested match that highlighted the depth of competition, while Hooda, who had been touted as a future star, could not advance beyond the early knockout round. Their exits effectively closed any realistic chance for India to win a badminton medal at these Games.
The early exit marks a disappointing finish for a nation that has traditionally been strong in badminton on the Asian stage. Coaches and officials will now turn their focus to upcoming tournaments, hoping to rebuild momentum for the next major event.