Ashmita Chaliha beats China's Han Qian Xi to win Korea Masters title
Seoul, August 9
Indian shuttler Ashmita Chaliha clinched her maiden BWF World Tour title after defeating China's Han Qianxi 14-21, 21-14, 21-14 in the women's singles final of the Korea Masters on Sunday.
The 26-year-old bounced back strongly after losing the opening game to seal a memorable victory and become only the fifth Indian woman to win a BWF World Tour Super 300 or higher-level title.
Chaliha started the opening game on an even footing with Han, with the scores level at 11-11. However, the Chinese shuttler shifted gears and won a series of points to take control before closing out the game 21-14.
The Indian came back strongly in the second game, producing a couple of powerful winners and displaying solid defence to take an 11-8 lead at the mid-game interval. She maintained her advantage and moved seven points ahead at 17-10 before sealing the game 21-14 with a strong smash to force a decider.
The final game began with both players fighting for every point. The Chinese opponent initially held the advantage and led 11-9 at the mid-game interval.
Chaliha, however, raised her level in the latter half of the decider. She regained the lead with precise winners and aggressive attacking play. A well-placed winner gave her a 12-11 lead before she extended the advantage to 15-11 with another superb shot that landed just inside the line.
Chaliha continued to dominate the closing stages, moving to 19-14 with a cross-court winner. Han then sent her return out, handing Chaliha the match and the biggest title of her career.
With the victory, Chaliha became only the fifth Indian woman to win a BWF World Tour Super 300 or higher title, joining Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Devika Sihag and Tanvi Sharma.
The Korea Masters title marks Chaliha's first BWF World Tour crown and comes after a determined comeback in the final against the world No. 35 Chinese player.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally, some great news for Indian badminton beyond the usual names! The depth in women's badminton is really growing. Saina, Sindhu, and now Chaliha, Sihag, and Tanvi - it's such a healthy sign. She deserve this title for her consistent efforts on the circuit. Jai Ho! 🏸
Great comeback from Ashmita. The way she adjusted her game after the first game was impressive. Solid defence in the second and then aggressive attack in the decider. Good to see Indian shuttlers doing well on the world stage.
Hats off to Ashmita! Coming back from a game down and beating a top-35 player shows her class. But I wish the badminton federation would give more exposure to these players, not just the established stars. She's 26 and this is her first World Tour title - imagine if she had more international coaching and tournaments earlier in her career. Anyway, great win today! 👏👏
The third game was a masterclass! From 9-11 down to winning 21-14. The way she dominated the latter half of the decider with those precise winners was just brilliant to watch. So proud of her! She's proving that Indian women's badminton is in very safe hands beyond the star players. 💪
What a Sunday morning to wake up to! Ashmita's never-say-die attitude is what sets these Indian athletes apart. The way she regrouped after that first-game loss shows her championship mentality. Also, nice to see the
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.