Macau Open 2026: Ashmita Chaliha loses in semis, India's challenge ends
Macau, June 20
Ashmita Chaliha's challenge at the Macau Open BWF World Tour Super 300 came to an end at the semi-final stage after the left-handed Indian went down against Korea's Park Ga Eun here on Saturday.
Ashmita went down 21-17, 21-9 in 38 minutes, and with her loss, India's challenge in the competition also came to an end, as per a press note from the Badminton Association of India (BAI).
The Indian left-hander began strongly in the opening game against Park and even held a 15-11 lead before the Korean won 10 of the next 11 points to seal the game.
Ashmita struggled with her rhythm in the second game, and Park wrapped up the match in straight games.
Earlier, Ashmita had defeated Kim 21-16, 21-18 in just 37 minutes to set up a last-four clash against another Korean Park Ga Eun, who received a walkover in the quarterfinals from second seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand.
The opening game between Ashmita and Kim was a neck-and-neck affair till 14-14. The Indian then clinched four straight points to open up a sizeable lead and then maintained the advantage.
The second game saw Kim taking the initiative and leading Ashmita 11-5 at the mid-game interval. But the left-handed Indian kept the pressure on her opponent and won five consecutive points from 16-18 to clinch the match.
However, eighth seed Anmol Kharb's challenge came to an end at the last eight stage as she went down 14-21, 21-15, 21-13 against fourth seed Han Qian Xi of China.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Ashmita chaliha's game has improved so much, especially her net play and deception. The first game was so promising—she was dictating terms. But Park Ga Eun is a seasoned player, and that experience showed in the second game. Still, reaching the semis of a Super 300 is a good result. Anmol Kharb also did well to reach QF. These girls need more exposure at this level. Well played both! 👏
Respectful criticism: Ashmita needs to work on her fitness and stamina. In the first game she was sharp, but after 15-11 lead, she lost 10 of the next 11 points—that's a mental and physical collapse. The second game was a whitewash. At this level, you cannot afford such lapses. She has the talent, but consistency over the entire match is missing. Coaches should focus on her endurance and closing out games. Still, proud of her effort. 🙏
It's a bit disheartening that India's challenge ended like this, but let's be honest—Ashmita and Anmol are still young and relatively new on the circuit. Park Ga Eun had a walkover in QF so she was fresh. The second set scoreline (21-9) shows Ashmita lost her way completely. Hope the BAI gives her more international exposure and training at the Prakash Padukone Academy or similar. She'll get there. Rooting for her! 🤞🏸
Ashmita's comeback win against Kim in the quarterfinal was brilliant—from 11-5 down in the second game to winning 21-18. That showed her never-say-die attitude. Against Park, she started well but couldn't sustain the intensity. It's a learning curve. These tournaments are important for rankings and confidence. We should support our young shuttlers. As we say in Hindi, *"Haar ke baad hi jeet
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.