NAGPUR: 'A new star is born' was the flavour of social media and WhatsApp chats as soon as city shuttler Malvika Bansod stunned Saina Nehwal on Thursday afternoon. Badminton lovers of the city were over the moon and understandably so.
Maharashtra Badminton Association (MBA) president Arun Lakhani termed the victory as stupendous.
"It's a stupendous achievement although not unexpected. It is the actual realization of her potential. Malvika has the temperament for big matches and is destined to bring laurels for the country," said Lakhani, who heads the Vishvaraj group, that has been supporting Malvika since 2019.
City coaches who have seen Malvika from her nascent years were delighted too. It was a proud moment for Malvika's childhood coach Kiran Makode. "This will really boost Malvika's morale going forward in her career. She has got the perfect result at the right time. This is the first big step before she carves out a name for herself at the international level. Scoring a victory over the iconic Saina reflects how well Malvika has matured and she must not look back now," said Makode.
When city coach Ajay Dayal was asked whether Saina was looking fit, he said, "Saina is a big player. She will not play unless she is fit. She took the court because she must have been confident. It is only Malvika's skills that helped her win. This is a big result no matter what. It has set an example for city shuttlers."
Malvika has always been a disciplined student of the game. She stood apart even during her school days at Centre Point School, Dabha. Her school coach Chetak Khedikar has seen her grow as a kid and he believes her grittiness sets her apart.
"This victory shows how important it is to follow processes like Malvika follows. You would never find her missing any session, no matter what. She has nurtured her game with utter passion and dedication in doing small things as told by her coaches. Today's result is the fruit of all that. It is just the beginning," said Khedikar.
Former India shuttler from Nagpur, Arundhati Pantawane, was super proud of her city mate. "Malvika used all the experience she garnered during the Uber and Sudirman Cup. Malvika's fitness is a reflection of the hard work she has put in during the lockdown. She worked harder on her strengths. I am confident she would use this experience in forthcoming matches," said Arundhati.
