While 2025 proved a mixed year for established stars like PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, Indian badminton witnessed a promising rise of young talent. Teenagers Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma and Rounak Chouhan emerged as standout performers, dominating junior tournaments and making impactful appearances at senior-level events, signalling a strong future
Tanvi Sharma
The year 2025 brought mixed success for India’s headline shuttlers — PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and the men’s duo of Satwiksairak Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. However, what cannot be debated is the emergence of India’s next generation of badminton stars, who stamped their authority in various events across the globe.
Three names stand out in particular — Unnati Hooda (18), Tanvi Sharma (17), Rounak Chouhan (18) — when it came to dominating junior tournaments, and in some cases even starring in senior events.
Tanvi makes early impact
Tanvi set the tone early, winning bronze at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in July — an accolade she shared with compatriot Vennala Kalagotla. She also bagged an individual silver medal at the BWF World Junior Championships, while also helping India secure its first bronze medal in 25 years.
The 17-year-old from Punjab also shone at the senior level, winning a silver medal at the US Open, a Super 300 event. She was also the youngest Indian to reach the tournament’s summit clash.
“This year has been very special for me. Winning the team medal at the World Juniors and also securing a silver medal for the country means a lot. I was happy with my performances at the US Open too. Now my focus is on transitioning to the senior circuit. I’m confident of adapting to this phase,” a confident Sharma, who trains at the National Centre of Excellence (NCE) in Guwahati, told mid-day.
Like Sharma, fellow NCE-trainee Chouhan also did well in the junior circuit. He won the India Junior International Series in Hyderabad, bagged a bronze medal at the Odisha Masters, and was a part of India’s medal-winning team at the World Juniors.
“It’s been a great year. The moment we knew we had confirmed a medal [at the World Juniors] was really special and something I’ll always remember. It was a proud feeling to hold the national flag. We worked hard for that moment. Now the focus is on maintaining this momentum and aim to win more medals next year,” said Sharma, 18.
While Sharma and Rounak shone brightest at the junior level, Hooda — also a part of the successful World Juniors team — faced a steep learning curve, but did well at the senior level too. Chief among Hooda’s stellar displays was defeating former World No. 1 Sindhu en-route a quarter-final finish at the China Open (Super 1000 event). She also reached the semis of the Hylo Open (Super 500 event) and then capped it off with a gold medal at the Odisha Masters (Super 100 event).
‘Great learning experience’
“I played against many top players this year and though I lost to most, It has been a great learning experience. I got a few wins as well. The medal at the World Juniors is special. The first gold of the year [at Odisha Masters] was really special too. 2025 has been nice to me,” Hooda signed off.
Tanvi Sharma
AGE: 17
. BEST PERFORMANCE: SILVER (BWF WORLD JR C’SHIPS)
Unnati Hooda
AGE: 18
. BEST PERFORMANCE: GOLD (ODISHA MASTERS)
Rounak Chouhan
AGE: 18
. BEST PERFORMANCE: TEAM BRONZE (BWF WORLD JR C’SHIPS)
India’s display at junior events in ’25
. BWF World Jr C’ships - 1 SILVER MEDAL, 1 BRONZE MEDAL
. Badminton Asia Jr C’ships - 2 BRONZE MEDALS
. Badminton Asia U17 & U15 Jr C’ships - 2 GOLD MEDALS, 1 SILVER MEDAL, 1 BRONZE MEDAL
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