Indian badminton has been steadily discovering new stars in recent seasons, and the latest to make her presence felt on the international circuit is Isharani Baruah.
The 21-year-old from Assam produced the biggest performance of her career at the Kaohsiung Masters S100 in Taiwan, storming into her first-ever semifinal at a Super 100 or higher event. Ranked World No. 66, Isharani upset higher-ranked opponents and displayed exceptional grit before bowing out in a hard-fought semifinal against former world champion Nozomi Okuhara. Isharani entered the tournament looking to build on a consistent 2025 season, but few expected her to produce a run of this magnitude. Beginning the week unseeded, she faced a tricky opening round against Thailand’s Nutnalin Rattanapanuwong.
Showing no signs of nerves, she breezed through with a commanding 21-13, 21-10 victory, setting the tone for the battles ahead.
Her Round of 16 clash against Chinese Taipei’s Ruo Hsuan Ko turned into a test of character. Isharani lost a tense opening game 15-21 but dug deep to take the second 21-14. The decider was a nail-biter, with both players exchanging long rallies and aggressive smashes. Isharani held her nerve in the closing stages, edging out Ko 23-21 in a 59-minute thriller that showcased her improved fitness and mental toughness.
The quarterfinal brought her face to face with local favourite Huang Yu-Hsun, the World No. 46 and fresh off a title win at the Indonesia Masters the previous week. On paper, Huang’s recent form made her the favourite, but Isharani produced one of the finest performances of her career. Controlling the net exchanges and mixing deceptive drops with deep clears, the Indian outmaneuvered Huang in straight games, winning 21-14, 21-18. The victory not only secured her first semifinal appearance at the Super 100 level but also marked a statement win over a top-50 player who was riding a wave of confidence.
A Brave Fight Against a Former World Champion
Standing between Isharani and a maiden final was Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, the 2017 world champion and former World No. 1. Despite her recent struggles with injuries, Okuhara remains one of the most accomplished players on the circuit, known for her relentless retrieving and tactical brilliance. The semifinal began with Okuhara asserting her dominance, taking the first game 21-11 as Isharani struggled to find her length against the Japanese veteran’s tight net play. But the young Indian refused to be overawed. In the second game, she raised her intensity, attacking the midcourt and forcing Okuhara into rare errors. Her bold play was rewarded with a 21-17 win, forcing a deciding third game.
The final game saw both players engage in long, gruelling rallies, testing each other’s stamina and patience. Isharani matched Okuhara shot for shot until the mid-game interval, but the Japanese star’s experience told in the closing stages. Okuhara closed out the decider 21-16, sealing her place in the final while Isharani walked away with her head held high. Despite the loss, Isharani’s ability to push a former world champion to three games was a significant achievement. “I tried to stay positive and fight for every point,” she said after the match. “Playing against someone like Okuhara is a great learning experience. This gives me a lot of confidence for future tournaments.”
The Kaohsiung Masters run is the latest highlight in what has been a promising 2025 season for Isharani. Already a consistent performer at the BWF International Challenge and Series level, she has steadily climbed the rankings with quarterfinal and semifinal finishes across Asia. Her improved fitness and attacking style have caught the attention of India’s coaching staff, who view her as a potential contender for future team events like the Uber Cup and Asian Games.
Isharani’s success is also a boost for Indian women’s singles, which has been looking for fresh faces to complement established stars such as P.V. Sindhu and the next wave led by Malvika Bansod and Unnati Hooda. Her ability to take down higher-ranked players like Huang Yu-Hsun shows she has the tools to compete with the best on the BWF World Tour.
Breaking into the world’s top 50 now becomes a realistic goal for Isharani, and her performance in Kaohsiung will provide valuable ranking points to move her closer to that milestone. More importantly, the experience of battling seasoned opponents in pressure situations will serve her well in upcoming tournaments on the Asian circuit. For Indian badminton fans, Isharani’s breakthrough is a reminder of the country’s growing depth in women’s singles. Her fearless style built on quick movement, sharp net play, and a willingness to attack makes her an exciting prospect to follow.
With the confidence gained from her first Super 100 semifinal and a fighting performance against a player of Okuhara’s pedigree, Isharani Baruah has announced herself as a name to watch on the global stage.
As she returns to training and prepares for the next set of challenges, Isharani carries with her not just the satisfaction of a career-best result, but the belief that bigger achievements are within reach. The Kaohsiung Masters may well be remembered as the tournament where a new Indian badminton star truly arrived.
