New kid in the block: Ashmita packs a punch at Senior Nationals
Promising Assamese player Ashmita Chaliha gave ample display of her immense talent, packing a punch during her women's singles semifinal clash with Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu at the Senior Badminton Nationals here Friday.
The 19-year-old from Guwahati, who had clinched two international titles at the Dubai Open and TATA Open in 2018, displayed a wide array of strokes and showed great temperament during her fighting 10-21 20-22 loss to Sindhu, a two-time World Championship silver medallist.
Initially, the occasion seemed to have got to Ashmita as she couldn't connect her strokes and lost the opening game rather meekly.
"I was nevous initially and hit out a lot and couldn't match her pace in the first game," Ashmita said later.
However, with the local crowd egging her, the Assamese progidy's prowess was in full display in the second game when she fought her way from 8-13 down to not only draw level but also grab a 19-16 lead at one stage, conjuring hopes of a decider.
The ...