Thailand Masters Super 300: Ashmita Chaliha’s run ends in semifinal as Supanida Katethong’s attacking variety proves tough to crack | Badminton News
Those who follow Indian shuttlers closely on the BWF World Tour would be no strangers to the name Supanida Katethong. The Thailand shuttler is in the top 20 in the world but hasn’t really won a whole lot to be considered truly elite. But she has been a thorn in the flesh for PV Sindhu in the past, defeating her at the India Open in 2022 and 2023. And there is also the fact that she is coached Sindhu’s former coach Kim Ji Hyun, who sat in the Indian’s corner when she won the 2019 World Championships.
Both Kim and Supanida had plenty to cheer about on Saturday at the Thailand Masters in Bangkok as they accounted for another Indian shuttler. Ashmita Chaliha’s best ever run at a BWF World Tour event came to a close in the semifinals as she couldn’t find the consency against a fellow leftie in Supanida, bowing out 13-21 12-21 in a 35-minute clash.
The gulf in rankings between the two shuttlers notwithstanding, the 24-year-old from Assam would have fancied her chances against Supanida before the match as both are naturally aggressive in their shot-making. Ashmita’s best bet would have been to test Supandia’s patience perhaps taking the initiative early. But playing in front of the home fans, the world No 17 was off to the better start, buoyed on the ever-animated Kim.
Supanida Katethong 🇹🇭 faces newcomer Ashmita Chaliha 🇮🇳 for a spot in the finals.#BWFWorldTour #ThailandMasters2024 pic.twitter.com/jucADDxsZ8
— BWF (@bwfmedia) February 3, 2024
The first seven points saw the two shuttlers trade blows with Ashmita pulling off a few good rallies, but the Thai set the tone early with her crosscourt drops and slices that have often undone Sindhu too. A combination of errors from the world No 61 and Supanida’s better control meant the opening game quickly became one-sided, at 15-5. Ashmita rallied at the backend of the first game, settling into a better rhythm and showing off her own attacking skills, winning five straight points at one stage, but that only helped her reduce the deficit to 13-21.
The second game too saw a similar storyline as Ashmita stayed in the contest till 6-7 but a run of six straight points either side of the interval for Supanida put the match beyond the Indian’s reach.
#ThailandMastersSuper300 #ThailandMasters2024
Comfortable win for Supandia Katethong, who was much more in control of the angles today. Ashmita Chaliha had flashes of brilliance but too few and too late. A good week for her still, something to build on.https://t.co/FXqFWLztZZ pic.twitter.com/v8qPc3zX3C
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) February 3, 2024
Ashmita can take positives from her run in Bangkok, reaching the semifinals of a Super 300 event for the first time in her career. The three-game wins against veteran Pai Yu Po and teenager Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo, both ranked higher than her, should give Ashmita the belief that she can last the dance physically and mentally at this level. Her skillset from the back of the court has always been evident, but Ashmita needs to add variety to her net-play to go along with consency in staying longer in points. The semifinal run at the Thailand Masters will be proof that she is capable but also highlighting the areas the former top-50 shuttler can improve on as she plots her climb back up the rankings.
