Odisha Masters: Isharani, Unnati, Kiran George enter finals after gritty semifinal battles
At the Odisha Masters 2025 BWF World Tour Super‑100, India secured strong spots in the final rounds across several contests. Three top players—women’s singles seed No. 1 Unnati Hooda, world‑ranking star Isharani Baruah, and men’s singles seed No. 2 Kiran George—advanced after tough semifinal battles at Cuttack’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday.
Isharani Baruah earned her ticket to the final by defeating Tanya Hemanth. After a narrow 18‑21 loss in the first game, she turned the match around with two decisive 21‑7 wins, wrapping the contest in just 54 minutes. She will now face the No. 1 seed, Unnati Hooda, for the title.
Hooda’s quarter‑final triumph over Tasnim Mir set the stage for her own semifinal. Mir had started strong, taking the opening game 21‑18, but Hooda rebounded, clinching the next two sets 21‑16, 21‑16 in 60 minutes to secure a place in the final.
In men’s singles, Kiran George advanced after an all‑Indian face‑off with Rounak Chouhan. With a tight 21‑19 start, George lost the second set 8‑21 but recovered in the decider 21‑18, sealing his spot in the final in 53 minutes. He now meets Indonesia’s Muhamad Yusuf.
India’s doubles hopes fell short in the semi‑finals: mixed‑doubles pair Sathwik Reddy and Reshika Uthayasooryan were beaten, as were women’s‑doubles duo Ashwini Bhat and Shikha Gautam.
Earlier on Friday, India’s top contenders—Hooda, Tharun Mannepalli, Tanvi Sharma, Kiran George, and Anupama Upadhyaya—progressed to the single‑player quarter‑finals. Hooda dominated Thailand’s Tidapron Kleebyeesun 21‑7, 21‑14 in 25 minutes, while Tanvi edged fellow Indian Aditi Bhatt 21‑18, 22‑20 in a 33‑minute match.
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