Malvika Bansod, the young Indian badminton player, has been hitting the right notes on the international circuit. In the ongoing China Open, Bansod continued her impressive form by reaching the quarterfinal stage. Bansod, who is ranked 43rd in the world, pulled off a stunning win against the two-time Commonwealth Games medallist Kristy Gilmour, ranked 25th, in a thrilling round-of-16 match.
The match lasted one hour and five minutes, and Bansod emerged victorious with a scoreline of 21-17, 19-21, and 21-16. However, the youngster impressed everyone with her intensity and resilience throughout the contest and showed why her reputation as a player at the highest level is growing.
Bansod's achievement is even more remarkable because she is competing in the China Open without a coach. She is accompanied by her father, Prabodh, who has been a constant source of support and guidance throughout her career.
Just a day before her victory over Gilmour, Bansod registered another impressive win against the fifth seed and Paris Olympics bronze medalist Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia. Bansod defeated Tunjung in straight games, showcasing her exceptional talent and determination.
After the result, Malvika spoke to PTI and said, "This is the first time I will play a quarterfinal of a Super 1000 tournament, so it is a dream come true and the biggest achievement of my life so far."
"I dreamt about this before the tournament that how would it be if I reached the quarters and now I'm top 8, so it's a great feeling," she added.
"This circuit is very tough because if you are entering a Super 500 or 1000 you end up playing a top 10 in the first round as I'm not seeded yet. So, I need to be physically strong from the beginning itself. I have been working on that."
However, Malvika, the lone Indian shuttler remaining in the competition, has a tough challenge ahead of her. In the last eight stages, she will face fourth seed and two-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan.
Who Is Malvika Bansod
Malvika Bansod sprang into the limelight when she beat 2012 Olympic bronze-medallist Saina Nehwal in 2022. The Nagpur-born shuttler, who was born on September 15, 2001, had grabbed eyeballs in the junior circuit for the better part of the last decade. She pursued a degree in computer science at SRM University in Chennai.
Malvika Bansod made headlines after winning the silver medal at the 2022 Syed Modi International tournament. She also won gold at the 2018 South Asian U21 Regional Badminton Championship.
She won the All-India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament on her debut in 2018 and, at 16 years of age, became the youngest-ever winner of the event.