Ashmita Chaliha Advances at Denmark Open After Tense Three-Game Battle
India’s Ashmita Chaliha booked her place in the women’s singles round of 16 at the Denmark Open after overcoming Bulgaria’s Kaloyana Nalbantova in a hard-fought match. Chaliha won 21-18, 22-20, showing composure in the closing stages of both games to secure a straight-games victory in a contest that was far closer than the scoreline might suggest.
The result keeps Chaliha’s campaign moving at one of badminton’s prominent international tournaments. While she avoided a deciding game, the Indian had to work through shifting momentum, extended rallies and pressure points before confirming her progress.
Chaliha holds firm in a close opening game
Chaliha made a quick start in the first game, but Nalbantova soon recovered and took away the early advantage. From 7-7, the game developed into a tight exchange, with neither player able to create a decisive separation. The score remained close through the middle stages, and the Bulgarian continued to challenge Chaliha’s control of the rallies.
Nalbantova stayed within reach as the players moved into the closing points, with the contest still finely balanced at 18-17. Chaliha, however, found the steadier finish. She managed the pressure better at the key moment, took the game 21-18 and moved one step closer to the next round.
The opening game offered an early indication of the challenge ahead. Chaliha had to adjust after losing her initial lead, while Nalbantova showed she could stay in the contest and make the Indian earn every point. Rather than allowing the shift in momentum to unsettle her, Chaliha remained patient and focused on building the points carefully.
Indian saves her best composure for the finish
The second game was even more demanding. Nalbantova edged ahead at 6-5 and maintained her advantage for much of the game, forcing Chaliha to chase the score. The Indian kept herself within striking distance, but she was unable to regain the lead until the contest reached 20-20.
At that stage, the match turned on a handful of high-pressure exchanges. Chaliha held her nerve, won the crucial points and closed out the game 22-20. Her ability to stay composed while trailing was central to the victory, as she prevented Nalbantova from taking the match into a deciding game.
The scoreline reflects a narrow win, not an easy one. Chaliha needed to respond to her opponent’s changes in momentum in both games, and the late surge in the second was especially important. In elite badminton, a small number of points can determine whether a player advances or faces another game, and Chaliha delivered when the margin for error was at its smallest.
A difficult next-round test awaits
Chaliha’s next opponent will be decided by the match between Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt and Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, the tournament’s third seed. Either potential matchup would present a different kind of challenge. Blichfeldt would have the support of the home crowd, while Yamaguchi brings the experience and consistency associated with a top-ranked international player.
For Chaliha, the immediate task will be to carry the confidence of this win into the next round while sharpening the aspects of her game that were tested against Nalbantova. Her ability to stay composed under pressure is an encouraging sign, though the round-of-16 contest is likely to demand sustained control from the opening rally.
Unnati Hooda exits after a three-game contest
There was a contrasting result for India’s Unnati Hooda, who was eliminated in the women’s singles round of 32 after losing to China’s Han Qian Xi. Hooda pushed her opponent through a competitive match but eventually went down 21-23, 21-16, 16-21.
The first game was closely fought from the outset. Hooda and Han were level at 10-10, and the contest remained tense through the closing stages, reaching 21-21. Hooda came close to taking the opener, but Han won the final points to claim it 23-21 and put the Indian under early pressure.
Hooda responded positively in the second game. She led from the start and looked in control until Han fought back to level the score at 16-16. Rather than let the momentum shift again, Hooda stayed composed and finished the game strongly, winning 21-16 to force a decider.
Han regains control in the deciding game
The third game proved more difficult for Hooda. After the momentum she had built in the second, she was unable to take control of the decider and trailed throughout. Han maintained her advantage and closed out the game 21-16, ending Hooda’s Denmark Open campaign.
Although the defeat will be disappointing, Hooda’s performance showed her ability to recover after a narrow opening-game loss. Taking the second game after Han had drawn level demonstrated resilience, while the first game’s 23-21 finish highlighted how fine the margins were in the match. Converting more of those close points could be an important area of focus as she continues her development on the international badminton circuit.
Indian women’s singles campaign continues
Chaliha’s progression gives India a representative in the next stage of the women’s singles draw, while Hooda’s exit underlines the competitive depth of the Denmark Open field. Together, the matches showcased two different tests: Chaliha’s ability to close out tight games and Hooda’s effort to recover from a narrow setback before facing a difficult deciding game.
As the tournament advances, Chaliha will look to build on a victory earned through patience and late-game composure. Her next match could bring a home favourite or a highly seeded opponent, but the win over Nalbantova gives her valuable momentum heading into the round of 16.
