Our Bureau
Seoul
Indian shuttler Ashmita Chaliha created history on Sunday by becoming the first Indian to win the women’s singles title at the Korea Masters, completing a remarkable comeback with a three-game victory over China’s fourth-seeded Han Qian Xi. Chaliha fought back from a game down to prevail 14-21, 21-14, 21-14 in a 53-minute final, securing her maiden BWF World Tour title.
The 26-year-old Indian initially struggled to find her rhythm as Han Qian Xi took control of the opening game. Chaliha, however, responded strongly in the second game, raising the intensity of her play and forcing the Chinese shuttler into errors. She carried that momentum into the decider, maintaining her composure to complete one of the biggest victories of her career.
The triumph is particularly significant given Chaliha’s recent struggles with injuries. Her title-winning performance marks a major comeback after an injury layoff and underlines her growing consistency on the international circuit. The victory also provides a major boost to India’s women’s singles badminton programme, with Chaliha emerging as an important name on the global stage.
Chaliha’s journey to the title reflected both resilience and determination. Having endured setbacks because of injuries, she returned to competitive badminton with the aim of regaining her form and establishing herself among the leading players.
After the historic victory, Chaliha made it clear that she does not intend to stop at her maiden World Tour title. She expressed her desire to build on the breakthrough and compete for more major honours.
The Korea Masters title is her first BWF World Tour crown and represents a significant milestone in her career. More importantly, the comeback victory over a seeded Chinese opponent could provide Chaliha with valuable confidence as she targets greater success in upcoming international tournaments.