NAGPUR: The era of Malvika Bansod has well and truly begun. Three months after sealing her maiden India berth to play alongside the likes of PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, the 20-year-old Malvika emerged champion in the BAI Series Senior National badminton championship which concluded in Hyderabad on Thursday.
In a lopsided summit clash, Malvika toppled the applecart of top seed Aakarshi Kashyap in straight games 21-15, 21-9 to win her third women's singles crown at the all-India senior level of a ranking tournament. The southpaw, seeded second, sealed the fate of India number 3 Aakarshi in just 42 minutes.
Malvika won her first senior national ranking title in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, in 2018 and repeated the act at Kozhikode in 2019. Malvika's third national triumph speaks volumes as she emerged triumphant among 415 participants in the women's singles category. While Bareilly saw a participation of 115 women players, Kozhikode recorded 135 entries.
In the final between the top two seeds, Malvika's overhead cross-court shots mostly remained unanswered as Aakarshi, after taking a slight advantage in the first game, failed to tackle the power and speed of her lower-ranked rival.
Once Malvika, ranked 111 as per the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings, went ahead at 8-7 in the first game, she never looked back and outplayed the world no 76 with a big margin.
Malvika was elated with her performance in Hyderabad. "Overall, my game was very good in the final. Throughout the tournament I had some tough outings. Since I was playing well, I was confident to win this final," Malvika told TOI on her way back to the city.
India's chief junior national coach Sanjay Mishra, who trains Malvika in Raipur, said, "Malvika played to her potential today. Last night, I told her not to take any pressure and she played freely in the final. I wanted her to win with a comfortable scoreline and she did it in style."
Mishra added, "Malvika's graph is on a rise. She needs to continue like this. In the coming 3-4 years, Malvika and some more junior shuttlers of her age will be at par with India's top players."
Malvika too feels improvement in her game and wants to "continue the process of bringing better quality in her game." She added, "My court coverage was good, and I had the power and speed to outplay my opponents. My cross-court shots overhead were my best in the final.
While Malvika gave a perfect end to the topsy-turvy year for sports, she feels 2021 was a "good year, overall."
Elaborating on her success, Malvika said, "I practiced hard under the guidance of Mishra sir to bring about better quality in my game. During Covid restrictions, Mishra sir arranged some special sessions. Performance-wise, I won two international titles at Uganda and Lithuania, topped all-India trials for selection, and represented the country in Uber and Sudirman Cups. I just wish to continue the process."
Malvika is now looking forward to giving her best in the India Open, which is scheduled to begin in New Delhi from January 11. After a day's break, celebrating the New Year with her family, Malvika will head to Raipur on Sunday to prepare for her first international outing in 2022.
