Ashmita Chaliha of India caused a major turn of events by defeating the United States’ Beiwen Zhang, who is ranked 10th in the world, to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the women’s singles event at the 2024 Malaysia Masters Super 500.
Despite being ranked 53rd, Chaliha emerged victorious with a score of 21-19, 16-21, 21-12 in a thrilling 43-minute match held at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.
The Indian started the match strongly, quickly establishing an 8-4 lead in the opening game. However, Zhang managed to equalize at 10-10. Chaliha gained an advantage as the American hit a shuttle wide, leading into the mid-game interval. Despite Zhang’s seasoned experience, Chaliha remained composed and secured the first game 21-19.
The second game presented challenges for the left-handed Indian, as she found herself trailing 8-11 at the mid-game break. Zhang capitalized on her dominance to claim the game 21-16, forcing a decisive third game.
In the third game, the 24-year-old from Assam showcased her superiority, sprinting to an 11-4 lead before changing sides. Despite Zhang’s improved performance towards the end, Chaliha’s early lead ensured her victory, closing out the match with a 21-12 win.
On Wednesday, Chaliha emerged victorious over Lin Sih Yun from Chinese Taipei with a score of 21-17, 21-16, securing a spot in the Round of 16.
Later in the day, PV Sindhu, a double Olympic medallist, faced a challenge from South Korea’s Sim Yu Jin but secured her spot in the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Masters.
Sindhu, making her comeback to the court after over a month, encountered the world No. 34 shuttler in the tournament’s opening round. She triumphed over Sim with a score of 21-13, 12-21, 21-14 in a match lasting just under an hour.
Initially, Sindhu struggled against Sim, trailing 8-10. However, she mounted an impressive comeback, scoring ten consecutive points, altering the dynamics of the match entirely. Sindhu clinched the first game 21-13, with Sim only managing to secure three of the last 15 points.
Sim retaliated strongly in the second game, showcasing remarkable skill to defeat the Indian with a score of 21-12 after initially trailing 9-10, thus forcing a decisive third game.
Sindhu faced a shaky start in the final game but quickly evened the score at 6-6. By the time the players changed ends, she had taken a lead of 11-9. Leveraging her experience, Sindhu strategically utilized angles to secure a 21-14 victory in the decider, advancing to the next round. Her next opponent in the quarter-finals is set to be Han Yue from China.
