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Malvika Bansod Stuns Paris Olympics Bronze Medallist To Make Maiden Super 1000 QF

Malvika Bansod
Image Credit: NDTV Sports
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Nagpur badminton player Malvika Bansod expert the first major shock of the China Open when she stunned Paris Olympics bronze medallist Gregoria Mariska Tunjung to reach her maiden Super 1000 quarterfinal.

The 22-year-old Indian ranked 43 in the world, showed a lot of character as she fought hard for an hour to edge past the Indonesian — who has a very high shuttle speed — with a 21-17, 19-21, 21-16 win in women’s singles pre-quarterfinals match on Thursday.

Malvika Bansod’s Journey Details
Age 22 years
Current World Ranking 43
Major Wins in the China Open Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, Kristy Gilmour
Next Opponent Akane Yamaguchi (world No. 2, Japan)
First Super 1000 Quarterfinal Yes
Key to Success Strength training and shuttle control in tough conditions

This stunning win adds to her previous victory against Scotland’s Kristy Gilmour, said to be a two-time Commonwealth Games medallist and world No. 25, emphasizing Bansod’s great form in this event.

As a result, she is the lone surviving Indian in the tournament. She will look for greater glory when she goes up against fourth-seeded Japanese, two-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi next in what amounts to her most difficult match of yet.

Related articles : BWF World Championships 2024: Excitement Builds for Badminton’s Biggest Event in China


Bansod’s Determination Gets Her To Historic Quarterfinal

Paris Olympics Bronze Medallist

Image Credit: Wikipedia

“This is my first Super 1000 quarterfinal, and it feels like a dream come true,” Bansod expressed after the match. “So far, this is my biggest achievement, and I’m really happy with how I’ve played.”

For the 19-year-old, it will be the first time that she will be making her way into the quarterfinal of Super 1000 with a win against Gregoria Mariska Tunjung.

An ecstatic Bansod said, “This will be the first time that I will play a Super 1000 quarterfinal of my career, and hence it is like a dream come true to me, and so far, this has been my big achievement.” ”She said:

“I dreamed about this already before the tournament, and now to be top 8, that´s just great.’

Tunjung, who played at a high-intensity level for a handful of points in the second game as well, tested Bansod’s endurance and poised tremendously throughout the hour and five minutes of play.

The Indian claimed the first game 21-17 but was pushed in the second, which she ended up losing 19-21. But she held her nerve in the third game and eventually took it 21-16, despite Tjandran eventing it up at 14-14.

Bansod credited her success to her adaption to the tricky conditions at the Sarawak Badminton Academy, where matches were played on slow courts under bad lighting.

Thus, this part is wide one, and there is a lot of drift from it, so I felt out of control in the last parts of the last game and also at some point during the codependence game as well”.

But I´m also thankful that God was there to help me out. Earlier, we saw that the Indian said she was able to get back and forth due to her retrieving ability and shuttle control.


The Secret Strength training

“The conditions were tricky, especially with the slow courts and bad lighting,” Bansod said. “But I’m thankful for my ability to adapt and control the shuttle in such conditions, which played a huge role in my win.”

Bansod who reckons the difference, has been her newfound attention on building strength, a necessity if you are to stand out in something as competitive as the Super 500 and 1000 tournaments in which a player like her often finds herself entrenched. 

It is a very difficult circuit because if you are registering for a Super 500 or 1000, then in the first round, I end up playing with someone from the top 10 because I’m not seeded yet. That means I have to have physical strength from the start. I’ve been working on that,” she said.

Her hard work seems to be showing results, as she scored some amazing wins over higher-ranked opponents like Gilmour and Tunjung. The youngster also revealed that being able to use the shuttle better than others in tough conditions is her other key advantage. 


Quarterfinal Will Provide a Tough Test

Among India’s bright spots at the tournament so far, Malvika Bansod will have a tough task as she lines up next against world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in her maiden Super 1000 quarterfinal.

In the past, Vivek has had his way against Bansod but both bouts were won by the two-time world champion pun away the leader. 

Bansod is not one to lose hope that easily, considering she has come close to toppling Yamaguchi in recent times and hopes it can be Shankar’s turn this time.

“Hope for the best. I am feeling fine, so we will see how it goes tomorrow. I will be my best,” she declared. Though Bansod is certainly the underdog against the Japanese star, she can offer a tough challenge to Yamaguchi by way of her current form and newly found confidence.

Bansod is India’s only representation left in the tournament and has big expectations for her fans from India to live up to.

The current champion was then unable to force the opponent’s serve with just 30 seconds left on the clock, while an unforced error saw Fernandez go to match point, leading into a service game.

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References:

NDTV.com

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