After years of waiting, Ashmita Chaliha finally has her breakthrough moment on the BWF World Tour. The 26-year-old from Assam on Sunday produced a gritty come-from-behind win to clinch her maiden World Tour title, defeating fourth seed Han Qian Xi of China 14-21, 21-14, 21-14 in the Korea Masters Super 300 final.
Ashmita Chaliha wins Korea Masters crown (X/@BadmitonTalk)
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
She is only the fifth Indian woman to win a Super 300 or higher title, after Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Devika Sihag and Tanvi Sharma.
It was a victory built on resilience. Chaliha dropped the opening game 14-21, but refused to let the match slip away. She responded in the second game with powerful winners and stubborn defence, sealing it 21-14 with a strong smash to force a decider.
The final game was every bit as tense. Chaliha trailed 9-11 at the mid-game interval, with the title suddenly within Han Qian Xi’s reach. But the Indian responded immediately, reclaiming the lead with precise winners and aggressive attacking play.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
A well-placed winner put Chaliha 12-11 ahead before another superb shot extended her advantage to 15-11. From the rear court, the talented left-hander controlled the shuttle brilliantly through the crucial endgame, repeatedly finding winners while keeping her composure when it mattered most.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
A well-placed winner put Chaliha 12-11 ahead before another superb shot extended her advantage to 15-11. From the rear court, the talented left-hander controlled the shuttle brilliantly through the crucial endgame, repeatedly finding winners while keeping her composure when it mattered most.
{{/usCountry}}
She moved to 19-14 with a cross-court winner before Han sent her return wide, handing Chaliha the match — and the biggest title of her career.
Chaliha had only returned to action in May after a three-month injury layoff owing to a tear in her right knee. But has since staged a strong comeback on the BWF Tour, which included a run to the semifinal at the Macau Open.
The world number 50 trains under Park Tae-Sang at the National Centre of excellence in Guwahati.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
Ashmita's win marks back-to-back BWF World Tour finals for Indians, with Tanvi Sharma having won the Taipei Open last Sunday.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
