India’s Malvika Bansod concluded an impressive campaign at the Hylo Open 2024 badminton tournament with a runner-up finish in the women’s singles, falling to Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt in straight games.
The sixth-seeded Bansod lost to Blichfeldt, the tournament’s seventh seed, by a 21-10, 21-15 scoreline in the BWF Super 300 event held in Saarbrücken, Germany, on Sunday.
Despite the loss, Bansod’s achievement is noteworthy. By reaching the final, she became only the third Indian woman—after Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu—to advance to the final of a BWF World Tour event outside India.
The 23-year-old from Nagpur previously made it to a BWF World Tour final at the Syed Modi International Super 300 in 2022, where she finished as runner-up to PV Sindhu. This performance marks a significant milestone in her burgeoning international career.
The world No. 34 Bansod began the match strongly, trading points with Blichfeldt to level at 9-9 in the first game. However, the Danish player, ranked 36th, shifted gears at this crucial juncture, claiming 12 of the next 13 points to seal the game.
Bansod struggled to counter Blichfeldt’s powerful returns and aggressive pace, leading to a lopsided 21-10 score in the first game.
In the second game, Bansod put up a stiffer resistance, gaining a slight lead at the halfway mark, partly aided by unforced errors from her opponent. Yet, Blichfeldt quickly recovered, raising her intensity post-interval to take control of the game and wrap up the match in just 43 minutes.
This year’s performance marked a step forward for Bansod, who reached the quarterfinals at the Hylo Open last year. Her path to the 2024 final included a hard-fought semifinal victory over another Danish player, Julie Dawall Jakobsen.
The Hylo Open has seen notable Indian performances in the past, with Lakshya Sen being the last Indian to claim a title at the event in 2019. While Bansod fell short of victory, her achievements at Saarbrücken this year add to the legacy of Indian badminton on the international stage and raise hopes for future successes.
Reflecting on her progress, Bansod now turns her attention to future tournaments, building on the confidence gained from her strong run at the Hylo Open. With a promising season ahead, she continues to stand out as one of India’s emerging talents in women’s badminton, following in the footsteps of established stars like Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu.
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