Ashmita Chaliha produced a determined display before suffering a narrow defeat against Denmark’s Line Højmark Kjaersfeldt in the women’s singles quarterfinals of the Malaysia Masters on Friday.
Competing in only her second major tournament after an eight-month rehabilitation period following a medial meniscus tear in her right knee, the Indian shuttler showed resilience and attacking intent before eventually going down 23-21, 18-21, 11-21 in a match that lasted slightly over an hour at the Axiata Arena.
Ranked 71st in the world, Chaliha made an excellent start against the world No. 23 and eighth-seeded Dane. She looked confident from the opening rallies and established control early in the first game, taking an 11-6 advantage at the mid-game interval with a combination of sharp net play and disciplined shot placement.
Although Line gradually fought her way back into the contest after the break, reducing the deficit to 13-12 and later edging ahead 19-18, Chaliha remained composed under pressure. The Indian saved crucial points during long rallies and managed to close out the opening game 23-21 after an intense exchange of momentum.
The second game followed a similar pattern initially, with Chaliha once again taking charge during the early stages. She moved into a healthy 10-5 lead and appeared on course to build further pressure on her higher-ranked opponent.
However, the experienced Dane slowly regained rhythm and levelled the scores at 13-13. From there, Line raised the pace of the rallies and capitalised on a few unforced errors from Chaliha to move ahead. After being tied at 15-15, the Danish player won key points in succession to secure the second game 21-18 and force the match into a deciding third game.
The final game proved more difficult for the Indian as fatigue and Line’s growing confidence shifted the momentum completely. The Dane quickly raced to an 8-4 lead and maintained control throughout the decider, preventing Chaliha from mounting any serious comeback.
Despite the defeat, Chaliha’s performance marked an encouraging return to top-level badminton after a lengthy injury layoff. Her run to the quarterfinals and strong showing against a top-25 opponent highlighted both her fighting spirit and potential ahead of the upcoming international season.
