Odisha Open: Smit stuns Ashmita, Unnati shocks Malvika; Priyanshu faces Kiran for men’s title

Smit Toshniwal knocked out Ashmita Chaliha, seeded five, 21-19, 10-21, 21-17 after Unnati Hooda surprised Malvika Bansod 24-22, 24-22.

REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE: Unnati Hooda stunned Malvika Bansod to qualify for the women's singles final of the Odisha Open in Cuttack on Saturday.

Pulling off stunning upsets, Smit Toshniwal and Unnati Hooda set up the women’s title-clash in the $75,000 Odisha Open badminton tournament at Cuttack on Saturday.

Smit knocked out Ashmita Chaliha, seeded five, 21-19, 10-21, 21-17 after Unnati surprised Malvika Bansod 24-22, 24-22.

For the men’s title, Priyanshu Rajawat will play Kiran George.

Trailing 14-19, Smit reeled off seven straight points to close the opening game. Ashmita responded by breaking away from 9-8 and winning the final six points of the second game. In the decider, Smit came back from 0-5 and 15-17 to win the last six points and reached the final.

Earlier, from 7-15, Malvika made it 17-16 and even went on to hold a game-point at 22-21. But Unnati stayed calm to convert her third game-point.

In the second game, Malvika rallied from 5-14 to lead 20-18. Unnati made it 20-all and saved a third game-point. She finally converted her second match-point for a memorable triumph.

Priyanshu dismissed Kaushal Dharmamer in straight games. Kiran proved stronger after dropping the first game to Ansal Yadav.

The results (semifinals): Men singles : Priyanshu Rajawat bt Kaushal Dharmamer 21-17, 21-14; Kiran George bt Ansal Yadav 19-21, 21-12, 21-14. Women singles : Smit Toshniwal bt Ashmita Chaliha 21-19, 10-21, 21-17; Unnati Hooda bt Malvika Bansod 24-22, 24-22.