India Open: Back from the Brink

A first Super 750 final was Pornpawee Chochuwong’s reward for her stubborn resistance during a nearly lost cause in the semifinals of the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2025.

And as the Thai celebrated one of her career’s best wins in the face of defeat, at the opposite end was crestfallen 18-year-old Tomoka Miyazaki, coming to terms with the bitterness of defeat in a match that tested the physical and mental limits of both players.

Tomoka Miyazaki

Miyazaki was seemingly at control at 20-18 in the second, but here Chochuwong’s dogged resistance came to the fore as she took the match to a decider. To Miyazaki’s credit, she didn’t allow the lost opportunity to distract her, and she was very much in the hunt until the very end, but Chochuwong’s superior experience proved decisive as she edged her young opponent 11-21 24-22 21-19. It will be Chochuwong’s biggest final since the All England in 2021.

“She was faster than me in the beginning, and I tried to step it up. Just had to fight it out in the third,” said Chochuwong.

The Thai’s entry into the final signalled continued good form after her recovery from a shoulder injury that had affected her early last year.

“It’s great for me in 2025. I couldn’t play well in India last year, but this time I’ve improved. I’m really happy. I think it’s a good time for me, because the injury layoff gave me time for recovery. I was surprised I could win, because I was behind in the second game. The crowd helped me a lot and there were a lot of supporters for me.”

Chochuwong will expect a far more difficult opponent in the final, with An Se Young making her second final in two weeks. The world No.1 was tested by Gregoria Mariska Tunjung but came through in straight games, 21-19 21-16.

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