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India beat Ukraine 4-1 with Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Devika Sihag, and the duo of Tanisha Crasto and PV Sindhu winning matches.
Unnati Hooda. (Picture Credit: Badminton Photo)
The Indian women’s badminton team registered their first win of the Thomas & Uber Cup 2026 with a commanding 4-1 victory over Ukraine women’s badminton team in their second Group A clash in Horsens, Denmark, on Sunday.
And they did it while resting PV Sindhu.
With the veteran sitting out singles duties, India leaned on its next-gen core.
Unnati Hooda set the tone with a nervy but impressive 21-19, 22-20 win over Polina Buhrova. It wasn’t flawless, but it was clutch.
Then came Tanvi Sharma, who doubled the lead in a gritty three-game battle, beating Yevheniia Kantemyr 21-12, 17-21, 21-10. Momentum: firmly India’s.
The spotlight then shifted to Devika Sihag, the 2026 Thailand Masters champion, who was handed a big opportunity in the third singles.
Devika grabbed it and edged Mariia Stoliarenko 23-21, 21-13 to seal the tie, ensuring India wrapped up the contest before the doubles even began.
India’s only stumble came in the first doubles, where Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi went down 11-21, 17-21 to the Buhrova-Kantemyr pairing.
But any hopes of a comeback were quickly shut down.
Tanisha Crasto and Sindhu combined to close out the tie in style, beating Stoliarenko and Sofiia Lavrova 21-18, 21-15.
One win on the board, but the road ahead gets steeper.
India now face defending champions China women’s badminton team in their final group match. And nothing short of a win will do if they want to reach the quarterfinals.
Result:
India beat Ukraine 4-1 (Unnati Hooda bt Polina Buhrova 21-19, 22-20; Tanvi Sharma bt Yevheniia Kantemyr 21-12, 17-21, 21-10; Devika Sihag bt Mariia Stoliarenko 23-21, 21-13; Kavipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi lost to Buhrova/Kantemyr 11-21, 17-21; Tanisha Crasto/Sindhu bt Sofiia Lavrova/Stoliarenko 21-18, 21-15)
April 26, 2026, 10:31 IST
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