Park Ga Eun Eliminates Ashmita Chaliha in Macau Open Semifinals
South Korea’s Park Ga Eun defeated Ashmita Chaliha in straight games during the women’s singles semifinals on Saturday, ending India’s campaign at the Macau Open Super 300. Park secured her final berth with a 21-17, 21-9 victory, stopping the impressive run of the Indian shuttler.
Key Highlights
- South Korea’s Park Ga Eun defeated India’s Ashmita Chaliha 21-17, 21-9 in the semifinals.
- Chaliha led the opening game 15-11 before Park secured 10 of the next 11 points.
- The defeat officially concluded India’s overall campaign at the Macau Open 2026.
- The Indian badminton contingent will next compete at the US Open starting June 23.
The Indian shuttler established a putting distance in the opening game, commanding a 15-11 advantage. However, Park mounted a fierce comeback by capturing 10 of the subsequent 11 points to claim the game. Chaliha dropped momentum in the second game as the Korean closed the match in 38 minutes.
Chaliha entered the semifinal following a quarterfinal win against South Korea’s Kim Min Sun, winning 21-16, 21-18. In that match, she overcame a 6-point deficit in the second game by scoring 5 consecutive points late in the game to confirm her victory.
The semifinal appearance marks a positive turn for the left-handed Indian player, who returned to action after an injury layoff sidelined her for nearly 3 months earlier this year. Prior to Macau, Chaliha reached the quarterfinals at both the China Masters and Malaysia Masters on the BWF World Tour.
India’s women’s singles prospects suffered an earlier setback on Friday when eighth seed Anmol Kharb exited in the quarterfinals. The young player lost to Chinese fourth seed Han Qian Xi 14-21, 21-15, 21-13 after forcing a deciding third game.
The men’s singles challenges concluded earlier in the tournament sequence, with qualifiers Tharun Mannepalli and Rounak Chouhan losing in the pre-quarterfinals. India’s doubles entries were similarly eliminated during the same round of play.
The Indian badminton team will now prepare for the US Open, which serves as the next tournament on the BWF World Tour schedule, commencing on June 23.
Future Outlook
The Indian badminton contingent faces a quick turnaround as they transition to the North American leg of the BWF World Tour. With Ashmita Chaliha showing consistent quarterfinal and semifinal form post-injury, coaching staffs will likely focus on closing out tight opening games. The upcoming US Open starting June 23 offers immediate redemption opportunities for young prospects like Anmol Kharb and the men’s singles qualifiers to deepen their tournament runs.
FAQs
Who defeated Ashmita Chaliha at the Macau Open 2026?
South Korea’s Park Ga Eun defeated Ashmita Chaliha in the women’s singles semifinals with a score of 21-17, 21-9.
How long did the semifinal match between Chaliha and Park last?
The semifinal match lasted just 38 minutes before the South Korean shuttler secured her spot in the finals.
What is the next tournament for the Indian badminton contingent?
The Indian badminton team will next compete in the US Open, which is scheduled to begin on June 23, 2026.
