Isharani Baruah’s impressive run at the Vietnam Open came to an end in the final, as the Indian shuttler finished runner-up after suffering a straight-games defeat against Thailand’s Sarunrak Vitidsarn on Sunday.
Isharani Baruah Falls Short In Final
The 22-year-old, who entered the tournament as the third seed and world No. 39, was beaten 8-21, 15-21 by the unseeded Vitidsarn in the women’s singles summit clash.
The match lasted 34 minutes, with the Thai shuttler producing a controlled performance to deny Baruah the title.
Despite the defeat, Baruah can take plenty of positives from her campaign in Vietnam. She had negotiated her way through the tournament with a series of impressive performances before reaching the final and putting herself in contention for her maiden Super 100 title.
Vitidsarn, ranked 106th in the world, proved too strong on the day and maintained her advantage across both games. Baruah struggled to match the Thai player’s consistency in the opening game, going down 8-21.
Baruah Battles Back But Vitidsarn Seals Title
The Indian showed greater resistance in the second game and managed to keep the contest closer. However, Vitidsarn maintained her composure at the crucial moments and eventually closed out the game 21-15 to complete a straight-games victory.
The result also means Baruah has now suffered her second defeat against Vitidsarn. The Indian had been hoping to reverse the previous result when the two met in the Vietnam Open final, but the Thai shuttler once again came out on top.
Impressive Campaign For Indian Shuttler
Baruah’s run to the final remains a significant achievement, particularly given the quality of the field and her position as the third seed.
The Indian had booked her place in the title clash after defeating fellow Indian Rakshitha Sree Ramraj in straight games in the semifinal.
While the final ended in disappointment, Baruah’s campaign highlighted her growing stature on the international badminton circuit. At 22, the Indian shuttler continues to build experience at the senior level and will be looking to convert future deep tournament runs into titles.
For now, she leaves the Vietnam Open with a runner-up finish and valuable ranking points, while Vitidsarn celebrates a memorable Super 100 triumph.