Ashmita Chaliha and Rakshitha Ramraj will meet in the women’s singles semi-finals of the Korea Masters Super 300 after both Indians came through tense three-game quarterfinals in Asan, South Korea. The USD 250,000 tournament is assured of an Indian finalist in the discipline following their respective upset wins.
World No. 50 Ashmita delivered the tournament’s biggest upset so far by defeating top seed and World No. 22 Hina Akechi of Japan 20-22, 21-15, 21-19 at the Asan Yi Sun-sin Gymnasium. Rakshitha followed by recovering from a game down to beat third seed and compatriot Tanvi Sharma 18-21, 21-19, 21-18 in a match that lasted more than an hour.
Ashmita overturns top seed Hina Akechi
Ashmita’s victory over Hina also avenged her defeat in their only previous meeting, at the Malaysia Super 100 last year. The opening game was closely contested, with Hina moving 7-5 ahead before Ashmita levelled at 7-7. A few errors from Ashmita helped Hina take an 11-9 lead into the mid-game interval.
Ashmita remained in contention after the restart, drawing level at 12-12 and 15-15 before taking leads of 17-15 and 18-16. She earned a game point at 20-19 when Hina found the net, but could not convert. Hina levelled the score and then took the game after Ashmita hit wide, finishing it with a cross-court winner.
The Indian responded decisively in the second game. With the score at 7-7, Ashmita won six straight points to establish a 13-7 advantage. Hina cut the gap to 14-16, but Ashmita claimed five of the following six points to level the match at one game each.
In the decider, Ashmita raced to a 9-3 lead and held an 11-9 advantage at the interval. She extended the margin to 18-11, only for Hina to win six consecutive points and close to within one at 17-18. Ashmita held on through the final exchanges to complete the 20-22, 21-15, 21-19 result.
Rakshitha recovers against Tanvi Sharma
Rakshitha’s route to the semi-final was also defined by a turnaround. She began strongly against Tanvi, opening a 13-8 lead in the first game. Tanvi then reeled off eight of the next nine points to turn an 8-13 deficit into a 16-14 advantage before taking the opener 21-18.
The second game remained tight throughout. Rakshitha held a two-point lead at the mid-game interval and later earned two game points after Tanvi found the net. She did not convert the first opportunity, but took the second when Tanvi sent her return wide, forcing a deciding game.
Rakshitha again carried a narrow two-point advantage into the interval of the third game. The contest was level at 14-14 before three unforced errors from Tanvi gave Rakshitha a 19-16 lead. An errant cross-court smash then handed Rakshitha four match points, and she sealed the match when Tanvi found the net.
The 18-21, 21-19, 21-18 win was Rakshitha’s fourth over Tanvi. Tanvi had won her maiden BWF title at the Taipei Open the previous week, but Rakshitha’s comeback ensured she will face Ashmita for a place in the Korea Masters final.
