Ashmita Chaliha produced the biggest win of her career on Sunday, fighting back from a game down to beat China’s fourth-seeded Han Qian Xi 14-21, 21-14, 21-14 in 53 minutes and win the Korea Masters women’s singles title.The 26-year-old Indian, who was ranked 50th before the tournament, became the first Indian to win the Korea Masters and is now set to break into the world’s top 40 for the first time.Ashmita started the final strongly and led 9-5, but struggled with the drift inside the court and lost the opening game 14-21. She found her rhythm after changing sides and took control of the match in the second and third games.“I feel really great; it’s unbelievable. I’m still trying to digest it,” Ashmita said in a video by Olympics.com.Explaining how she adapted to the conditions, she said, “First set was a little bit tricky because of the drift conditions, so I wasn’t able to manage it. But then the second set, the other side is more comfortable, and it’s a little bit less drift. So I was able to control it. In the third set, when I changed again after 11 points, I was on the good side…so I’m glad that I could pull off.”The title capped an impressive run in Asan. After beating Ririna Hiramoto and Kim Min Ji, Ashmita stunned top seed Hina Akechi in the quarterfinals before defeating compatriot Rakshita Sree Santhosh Ramraj to reach her first BWF World Tour final.
A breakthrough after injury
Ashmita’s title comes months after she returned from a three-month injury layoff in May. She reached the quarterfinals at the China Masters and Malaysia Masters before making the Macau Open semifinals in June.Her latest achievement has also taken her closer to the world’s top 40, but she is already looking ahead.“I didn’t know this. I feel blessed; thank you to everyone back home for supporting me. I’m hungry for more!,” she added.Ashmita also credited coach Park Tae-Sang, saying, “All the credit goes to coach Park. Without him, I wouldn’t have been this much energetic.”
