Indian badminton player Isharani Baruah had to settle for the runner-up spot at the Vietnam Open Super 100 tournament after suffering a straight-games defeat against Thailand’s Sarunrak Vitidsarn in the women’s singles final on Sunday.
Baruah, the third seed at the tournament, went down 8-21, 15-21 against the unseeded Thai shuttler. The title clash lasted just 34 minutes, bringing an end to what had otherwise been a strong campaign for the 22-year-old Indian.
Ranked 39th in the world, Baruah entered the final as the higher-ranked player against world No. 106 Vitidsarn. However, the Indian struggled to find her rhythm in the opening game as her opponent quickly established control.
Vitidsarn dominated the first game to take it 21-8 and move within one game of the title. Baruah produced a stronger challenge in the second but could not force the contest into a deciding game, with the Thai player closing out the match 21-15.
The defeat marked Baruah’s second loss against Vitidsarn. The two players had previously faced each other four years ago at the India Junior International Grand Prix in 2022.
Despite falling short in the final, Baruah enjoyed an impressive run through the Vietnam Open draw. She had reached the title match without losing a single game, displaying consistency throughout the tournament before running into Vitidsarn.
In the semifinal, Baruah faced compatriot Rakshitha Sree Ramraj and secured another straight-games victory to book her place in the summit clash. That result ensured an Indian presence in the women’s singles final.
The final, however, proved to be Baruah’s toughest challenge of the tournament. Vitidsarn became the first player during the event to take a game off the Indian and went on to complete the victory without requiring a decider.
While the title remained out of reach, Baruah’s runner-up finish capped a notable week in Vietnam. Her unbeaten run in games until the final and her progression through the tournament provided another significant result for the world No. 39 as she continues her campaign on the international badminton circuit.
