Malvika Bansod Stuns at China Open, Reaches Quarter-Finals
Malvika Bansod, the rising star of Indian badminton, has made a remarkable impact at the prestigious China Open, one of the most elite tournaments on the BWF World Tour. Despite facing formidable opponents, Bansod displayed exceptional skill and determination, reaching the quarter-finals in her first Super 1000 event.
Bansod’s journey began with an impressive victory over world No. 7 Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia. She followed this up with a confident win against experienced Commonwealth Games medalist Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland. These victories showcased Bansod’s ability to outsmart and outplay top-ranked players.
“I’ve had close matches with top 20 players before, and those losses helped me analyze my mistakes,” Bansod said. “I’m glad I could implement those lessons in these matches.”
Bansod’s rise to prominence began in 2019 when she won five International Series finals. She gained further attention in 2022 by defeating former world No. 1 Saina Nehwal at the India Open and reaching the finals of the Syed Modi International.
However, a bout of dengue in 2022 led to a dip in form. Bansod also underwent a coaching change, with her childhood coach Sanjay Mishra becoming the secretary general of the Badminton Association of India.
In 2023, Bansod joined the Thane Badminton Academy under coach Shrikant Vad. Vad praised Bansod’s receptiveness and fitness, noting that she has the desire to win and improve.
“We worked on specific points, such as her net game and finishing strokes from the back court,” Vad said. “She’s shown great retrieving skills and has improved her control of the shuttle.”
Bansod’s recent success at the China Open has given her confidence and valuable experience against top-quality opponents. She lost to two-time former world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the quarter-finals but gained valuable insights from the match.
“I’ve made changes in my game that have led to better results,” Bansod said. “I’m aiming to break into the top 25 and continue improving my performances at the highest level.”
Bansod’s next challenge will be the Finland Open Super 500 tournament in October. Her impressive performances at the China Open have solidified her status as a rising star in Indian badminton, with the potential to achieve even greater heights in the future.