Unnati Hooda, 14, Claims Odisha Open Super 100 Women's Singles Title

Unnati Hooda, 14, became the youngest Indian to win a Super 100 tournament as she beat compatriot Smit Toshniwal in to claim the Odisha Open women's singles title.

Teenager Unnati Hooda, 14, became the youngest Indian to win a Super 100 tournament as she beat compatriot Smit Toshniwal in straight games to claim the women's singles title while unseeded Kiran George emerged triumphant in men's singles final of the USD 75,000 Odisha Open badminton tournament on Sunday. The 21-year-old George prevailed over Priyanshu Rajawat 21-15, 14-21, 21-18 to clinch the men's singles title after battling hard for 58 minutes. Before that, 14-year-old Unnati produced an excellent performance to emerge triumphant in her event. Unnati won 21-18, 21-11 to be crowned the Odisha Open champion for the first time.

In the mixed doubles final, India's MR Arjun and Treesa Jolly suffered a 16-21, 20-22 defeat at the hands of Sri Lankan duo Sachin Dias and Thilini Hendadahewa in a match that lasted 36 minutes.

Unnati, who entered the final after she surprised Indian Open finalist Malvika Bansod 24-22, 24-22 in the last-four clash on Saturday, took 35 minutes to get the better of Toshniwal in the summit showdown of the women's singles at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Statdium.

Toshniwal too pulled off an upset, knocking out Ashmita Chaliha, seeded five, 21-19, 10-21, 21-17, to set up the title clash with the 14-year-old Unnati.

Unnati claimed the the first game after making a comeback and riding on the momentum, she won the second game without much difficulty as Toshniwal had no answer to her opponent's aggressive approach.