Ashmita Chaliha clinches maiden BWF World Tour title at Korea Masters
India's Ashmita Chaliha secured her maiden BWF World Tour title with a gritty three-game victory over fourth seed Han Qian Xi of China in the women's singles final of the Korea Masters Super 300 badminton tournament in Asan on Sunday. The 26-year-old from Assam triumphed 14-21, 21-14, 21-14 in a contest that lasted 53 minutes.
The Korea Masters, a Super 300 event on the BWF World Tour, features many of the world's leading players. Chaliha, ranked 50th in the world, came into the final as an underdog against Han, who is ranked 35th. But the Indian displayed remarkable composure and shot-making quality to turn the match around after a slow start.
Chaliha made a bright beginning, opening a 3-0 lead and moving to 9-5 in the opening game. Han, however, mounted a strong comeback. The two players were level at 11-11 before the Chinese shuttler found another gear, reeling off a series of points to take the game comfortably.
The Indian responded with renewed aggression in the second game. She attacked with greater authority, using her powerful smashes to pin Han back while also producing sharp defensive returns. The score was tied at 6-6 before Chaliha surged ahead, leading 11-8 at the interval. She continued to dictate the rallies, moving to 17-10 and then closing out the game 21-14 with a powerful attacking shot.
The decider was closely fought in the early stages. Chaliha edged to a 5-2 lead, but Han responded to go into the mid-game break ahead at 11-9. Chaliha, however, kept her composure and gradually turned the match in her favour. She moved ahead 12-11 with a precise winner along the line. Another exceptional shot, played while stretching low towards the shuttle, landed just inside the court as she extended her lead to 15-11. She continued to find the gaps in Han's court, and a cross-court winner made it 19-14. Han then sent her return wide, handing Chaliha the championship point and her first BWF World Tour title.
The victory marks back-to-back BWF World Tour finals for Indian women, following Tanvi Sharma's title at the Taipei Open on August 2. It also highlights the growing competitiveness of Indian badminton on the global stage.
Chaliha's journey to this title has been marked by perseverance. She suffered a medial meniscus tear in her right knee during the Korea Open in 2024 and underwent surgery followed by an extensive rehabilitation period. She returned to the circuit in February 2025 and has since played 14 events. After competing in a couple of tournaments, she spent three months focusing on building strength to handle the demands of a full elite BWF calendar.
Her efforts have yielded consistent results. She reached the quarterfinals at the China Masters and Malaysia Masters and made the semifinals at the Macau Open before her breakthrough in Asan.
Chaliha, who trains under coach Park Tae-Sang at the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, has shown remarkable resilience to overcome a serious injury and reach the pinnacle of the sport. Her maiden World Tour title is a milestone that underlines her potential to compete with the best in the world. The title adds to India's growing list of achievements in international badminton and cements Chaliha's place among the country's top women's singles players.
