Isharani Baruah Claims Runner-Up Spot at Vietnam Open After Losing Final to Thailand’s Sarunrak

India’s Isharani Baruah produced an encouraging run at the Vietnam Open Super 100 before settling for the runner-up spot after losing to Thailand’s Sarunrak Vitidsarn in the women’s singles final here on Sunday.

The third-seeded Indian, ranked 39th in the world, struggled to find her rhythm against the unseeded Thai shuttler and went down 8-21, 15-21 in 34 minutes.

Baruah fought hard in the second game after falling behind early, but Sarunrak maintained control of the rallies and kept the pressure on to close out the match in straight games.

For the 22-year-old Indian, the result marked a strong showing at the Super 100 tournament despite falling at the final hurdle. Her progress to the title clash included a straight-game semifinal victory over fellow Indian Rakshitha Sree Ramraj, setting up an opportunity to claim her first major title at the event.

Sarunrak, ranked 106th in the world, once again proved a difficult opponent for Baruah. Sunday’s result was the Thai player’s second victory over the Indian, giving her another significant win against a higher-ranked opponent.

The defeat will nevertheless offer valuable experience to Baruah, who has been steadily making her presence felt on the international badminton circuit. Reaching the final as the third seed also underlined her growing consistency and ability to go deep into tournaments.

For Sarunrak, the victory capped an impressive campaign in Vietnam and provided another boost to her international standing. For Baruah, the runner-up finish offers a strong platform to build on as she continues her rise in women’s singles.

The Indian will now look to convert such deep tournament runs into titles as she continues her development on the international circuit.