Nagpur: With Nagpur’s city shuttler Malvika Bansod’s semi-finals exit from the women’s singles event, India’s campaign at the US Open 2024 Badminton Tournament also came to an end on Sunday.
Malvika lost to World No 38 sixth seed Natsuki Nidaira of Japan in straight games. Seeded seventh, the Nagpur girl lost 21- 16, 21-13 to her opponent in 43 minutes. She was the last surviving Indian at the US Open 2024. Malvika and her opponent started the first game on an even footing with score reading 4-4. However, after that Natsuki took six consecutive points to make it 10-4 and seized the initiative.
The Japanese shuttler maintained the lead at 18-12 and even though Malvika closed the gap to 18-15, it wasn’t enough as Natsuki took the first game 21-16. Natsuki, an Asian Games bronze medallist, began the second game positively and made it 9-3 early on. Malvika, who came back from a game down to secure a win over two-time Commonwealth Games medallist Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland in the quarter-finals, was unable to force a decider. With the score at 17-13, Natsuki won four points on the trot to secure the tie and marched into the final. Malvika had won the Azerbaijan International challenge this year.
