Indian women’s singles badminton has witnessed progress over the last decade. We have seen medals in women’s badminton from the 2012 London Olympics till Tokyo 2020. However, the current landscape is concerning, especially after India returned without a medal from the Paris Olympics for the first time in 12 years. While we still have PV Sindhu, who continues to grace the court with her presence, there’s no denying that the 23-year-old Malvika Bansod is currently the best women’s singles player in Indian badminton.
PV Sindhu’s dipping form
PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, has been struggling to regain her form since coming back from an injury in 2023. She has yet to win a title this year and has failed to reach the semifinals in any BWF event. Even at the recent Paris Olympics, Sindhu could not progress beyond the quarterfinals, and this is raising concerns about her future in the sport.
Malvika Bansod: A promising player
Malvika Bansod has been making waves in the badminton circuit. In her early 20s, she made headlines by winning a silver medal at the 2022 Syed Modi International tournament during her debut season on the BWF World Tour. In 2024, she started by winning the Azerbaijan International Badminton tournament. Later in the year, she achieved a fantastic feat by defeating Olympic bronze medallist Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia for the second time at the China Open, winning in a hard-fought match in straight games. She’s been gaining momentum and continuing to participate in top tier BWF tournaments.
Top Women’s singles player after Sindhu
When we take Sindhu out of the equation, Malvika stands out as the top-ranked women’s singles player in India. Currently, she holds a significant lead, ranking well above her competitors. Aakarshi Kashyap is positioned at 49th, Anupama Upadhyaya at 52nd, Unnati Hooda at 55th, and Ashmita Chaliha at 56th. With such a promising trajectory, Malvika’s rise means that she could be the cornerstone of India’s women’s singles badminton in the years to come.
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