Ashmita Chaliha wins Korea Masters 2026 women's singles title

Ashmita Chaliha defeated China’s Han Qian Xi in the Korea Masters final on Sunday to claim the women’s singles crown at the 2026 event.

The 26-year-old left-hander, who trains at the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, became the first Indian to lift the Korea Masters title and recorded the biggest victory of her career at the BWF Super 300 tournament. Her triumph adds an Indian Super 300 winner to the season’s roll of honour alongside established names and recent domestic winners.

Chaliha recovered from a game down to beat fourth seed Han 14-21, 21-14, 21-14 in a 53-minute final. The world No. 50 had eliminated top seed Hina Akechi in the quarter-finals and began the final strongly, opening a 9-5 lead before a run of errors cost her five straight points and the opening game.

She reversed the momentum by winning the next two games through patient court work and timely winners, converting crucial points to close out the match. Chaliha’s ability to stay in rallies and pick winners at key moments was decisive in the latter stages of the encounter.

Reflecting on the conditions and her adjustments during the match, Ashmita said: “In the first game, it was a little bit tricky because of the drift condition. So I was not able to manage it. But in the second, the other side was more comfortable and there was less drift. So I was able to control it. And in the third, after 11 points, I changed again. So I was on the good side. So I’m glad that I could pull off.”

On winning the title she added: “I feel really great and unbelievable. But then I am trying to digest it. Now, I am hungry for more,” said Ashmita.

Her Korea Masters victory brings another Super 300 trophy to India; former world No. 1 Saina Nehwal and former world champion PV Sindhu have previously won at this level, while Devika Sihag won the Thailand Masters in February and Tanvi Sharma claimed the Chinese Taipei Open in the first week of August.