Nagpur: Talented Indian shuttler Malvika Bansod from Nagpur could not stand up to the challenge of two-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi, going down to the fourth-seeded Japanese in straight games in the quarterfinals of the China Open on Friday.
Malvika, ranked 43rd, found the going tough against the world No.5 losing 10-21, 16-21 in just 35 minutes as India’s challenge in the Super 1000 tournament came to an end. The loss comes just a day after the 22-year-old Malvika had defeated two-time Commonwealth Games medallist and world No. 25 from Scotland Kristy Gilmour in a round-of-16 clash.
This was the third successive loss for Malvika against Yamaguchi, the former world No. 1. The Nagpur shuttler was no match for Yamaguchi in the opening game as the Japanese took a massive eight point lead at 12-4 before closing out the game at 21-10. The second game was a more even affair with her going neck-and-neck till 15-all before Yamaguchi showed her class.
Despite the loss, Malvika’s debut at the BWF Super 1000 tournament was a memorable one. Bansod was the sole Indian remaining in the tournament. The Nagpur shuttler had delivered a stunning performance in the Round of 16, defeating Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour in a thrilling three-game showdown.
Earlier, in the first round, Bansod had upset world number seven and Paris Olympics bronze medallist Gregoria Tunjung of Indonesia. Malvika Bansod, ranked 43rd, became the third Indian woman after PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal to reach a quarterfinals of Super 1000 tournament.
