NAGPUR: Malvika Bansod made a convincing start to her campaign in the India Open with a straight-game win against Samiya Imad Farooqui in New Delhi on Wednesday.
In the opening round of her women's singles clash, Malvika took just 34 minutes to send Samiya packing with a facile 21-18, 21-9 victory.
Malvika, who recently won the All-India Senior ranking meet in Hyderabad, struggled to take control of the rallies in the first game against Samiya, who ran her close till the first mid-game interval. But just when it looked like the match could go down the wire, the left-handed city shuttler became more aggressive and bagged the first game.
The second game was a cakewalk for Malvika.
In the second round to be played on Thursday, Malvika will face former World No. 1 Saina Nehwal. "I am really excited to play against Saina because this will be my first encounter with her. So, I am really looking forward to the match," said Malvika.
On her tournament opener against Samiya, Malvika said, "Both of us started well. I found my rhythm a little later in the first game. After 7 or 8 points I could find my rhythm and took a big lead. I made some silly errors in the end but managed to cover them and finished the first game well. I upped my level in the second game and was glad to finish it off well."
While Malvika is all set to face Saina, city's doubles specialist Ritika Thaker and Mumbai's Simran Singhi will square up against the duo of Deeksha Choudhary and Yashica Jakhar in their second round women's doubles clash on Thursday.
