Ashmita Chaliha (اشمیتا چالیها) achieved her biggest professional victory on Thursday in the second round of the France Table Tennis Championships 2026, defeating three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi (آکانه یاماشی) from Japan with a score of 21-19, 21-18.
Victory in 37 Minutes
Chaliha, a 27-year-old Indian player currently ranked 36th in women's singles, achieved this victory in just 37 minutes. Yamaguchi had previously been recognized as the runner-up at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi earlier this year, where she lost in the final to An Se-young from South Korea.
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Strong Start and Maintaining Composure
Chaliha, who previously claimed her first BWF World Tour title at the Korea Masters Super 300, started the first game well by building an 18-14 lead and finished it in her favor while maintaining her composure. Yamaguchi, who had defeated Chaliha at the Denmark Open last week, tried to level the game and reached a tie at 18-18. However, Chaliha regained the lead with her iron nerves and concluded the first game in her favor.
In the second game, Chaliha maintained her advantage with more control and flawless defensive play, achieving a more comfortable victory. The two players were tied at 7-7 at the beginning of the game, but Chaliha then increased the gap and secured an astonishing victory in consecutive games.
With her relentless defensive play and continuous recoveries, Chaliha put pressure on Yamaguchi, forcing her into several unnecessary errors. Now, Chaliha will face either Nozomi Okuhara (نوزومی اوکوهارا), a former world champion from Japan, or Pornpawee Chochuwong (پونپاو چوجوونگ) from Thailand, who is ranked eighth in the world, in the quarter-finals.
P.V. Sindhu (پ.و. سینگو), another Indian player, also advanced to the round of 16 with a comfortable victory of 21-12, 21-16 in 44 minutes against Riko Gunji (ریکو گونجی) from Japan.
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