Isharani Baruah Reaches Vietnam Open Super 100 Final, Books Biggest Overseas Final of Career

Isharani Baruah continued her impressive run at the Vietnam Open 2026, reaching the women’s singles final with a straight-games victory over compatriot Rakshitha Sree Santosh Ramraj. 

The Indian shuttler produced a composed performance to win 21-10, 21-18 in 40 minutes and book her place in the title clash of the BWF World Tour Super 100 tournament. The result marks a significant milestone in Baruah’s career. It is her second BWF World Tour final, following her appearance at the Odisha Masters in 2025, but more importantly, it is her first World Tour final outside India.

Baruah entered the Vietnam Open with growing momentum and has now carried that form all the way into the final. Her run has included a notable victory over former Malaysian star Goh Jin Wei, as well as another straight-games win in the quarter-finals, underlining the consistency she has shown throughout the tournament.

Baruah dominates in all-Indian semi-final

The semi-final presented Baruah with a familiar but tricky opponent in Rakshitha, a teenager who has already shown that she can trouble higher-ranked players.

However, Baruah controlled the contest from the opening exchanges. She established an early advantage in the first game and never allowed Rakshitha to settle into a rhythm. Her movement and shot selection helped her maintain control of the rallies, while she was particularly effective at converting opportunities when they arose. The first game ended 21-10 in Baruah’s favour, putting her one step away from the final.

Rakshitha responded with greater resistance in the second game and kept the contest much closer. Unlike the opening game, neither player was able to establish a commanding advantage for long stretches. Baruah, though, remained composed during the crucial stages and managed to stay ahead when it mattered most. She eventually closed out the second game 21-18, sealing a straight-games victory and a place in the final.

The win also helped Baruah maintain her positive head-to-head record against Rakshitha. The victory takes her record against the young Indian to 3-1.

Baruah’s path to the final has been built on a series of assured performances. Ranked No. 39 in the world, she began her knockout campaign with a statement victory over Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei, ranked No. 54. Baruah defeated the Malaysian 21-18, 21-16 in the Round of 16. That win was followed by another impressive straight-games performance against Taiwan’s Huang Ching Ping in the quarter-finals. Baruah won 21-15, 21-18 to move into the last four without dropping a game in either of her opening knockout matches.

The semi-final against Rakshitha was expected to provide a different challenge because of the familiarity between the two Indian players. Yet Baruah once again found a way to impose her game. Across the tournament, her ability to maintain control during extended rallies has been one of the defining features of her campaign. More importantly, she has managed to avoid unnecessary dips in performance, allowing her to progress through the draw with increasing confidence.

Second World Tour final

The Vietnam Open final represents another important step in Baruah’s development. Her first World Tour final came at the Odisha Masters in 2025, giving her a taste of competing for a title at this level. Reaching another final less than a year later suggests that the Indian shuttler is beginning to establish herself as a consistent presence on the international circuit.

But this final carries an additional significance. Unlike her Odisha Masters appearance, Baruah has reached the title clash on foreign soil. Winning a tournament away from home presents a different test, with players having to deal with unfamiliar surroundings, travel demands and different match conditions.

Baruah has handled those challenges impressively in Vietnam. Her run also adds another encouraging result to India’s women’s singles programme, which continues to search for players capable of making a sustained impact on the international circuit beyond the established names.

Baruah will now turn her attention to the biggest match of her Vietnam Open campaign. Having already defeated three different opponents in the knockout stages, including two players ranked inside or close to the world top 50, she will enter the final with considerable confidence. The manner of her straight-games victories also means she has avoided the additional physical demands that come with long three-game battles.

For Baruah, the opportunity is now simple: one more victory stands between her and her first BWF World Tour title.Whatever happens in the final, her campaign in Vietnam has already delivered a career milestone. She has reached her first international World Tour final, followed it up with a dominant semi-final victory over a fellow Indian, and demonstrated that she can compete deep into a Super 100 tournament.

Now comes the chance to turn a breakthrough week into a championship-winning one.