In a supreme display of skills, India’s fast-rising shuttler Malvika Bansod entered the semis of the Hylo Open 300 in Germany, on Friday, after beating Vitenam’s highest-ranked TL Nguyen. The World No. 34 Bansod prevailed over her opponent in straight games 21-15, 21-17. The youngster was at her attacking best, as she gave Nguyen no chance to make a recovery in the match, to enter the last four of the tournament.
Malvika Bansod in Semis at Hylo Open
What is important to note is, Malvika had lost to the same opponent, Nguyen, in the first round of Denmark Open in October, but found a way to reverse the fourtunes, this time around. Also, this is only the second time that she has made it this far, in a Super 300 tournament, with the first being Syed Modi International, where she finished runners-up, behind PV Sindhu.
The first game started with an 11-3 lead for Malvika Bansod, who has had a surprisingly good last few weeks on the BWF Tour, where made it to the quarters of China Open as well, and beat opponents like Kirsty Gilmour and Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia. After getting that lead, she closed the game at 21-15. The second game, too was easy for the Indian, to progress to the next round. Now, she will be up against Denmark’s JD Jakobsen, in the semis.
Meanwhile, it wasn’t as good a day for other women’s singles player, Santhosh Ramraj, who beat Gilmour in the previous round. She went down against JD Jakobsen of Denmark, 12-21, 17-21. As far as the men’s singles section is concerned, Ayush Shetty scripted a win over K Koljonen, while Karunakaran gave a walkover to Christo Popov.
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