NAGPUR: Star city shuttler Malvika Bansod continued her giant-killing run at the BWF World Tour international badminton tournaments. In the opening round of the China Masters Super 750 badminton tournament in Shenzhen, the 35th-ranked Malvika rallied from a game down to stun world no. 21 Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt of Denmark in a nerve-wracking 74-minute clash, winning 20-22, 23-21, 21-16.
With this win, Malvika has exacted revenge for her Korea Open defeat by Kjaersfeldt. Aiming to give a positive start to her campaign in China, the 23-year-old Malvika played aggressively and succeeded in pocketing a handy 11-4 lead in the first game. The 30-year-old Kjaersfeldt, however, played patiently and not only brought parity at 16-16, but the experienced Danish shuttler also clinched the first game 22-20.
Despite losing the first game, Malvika remained positive and won the second game 23-21. Much like the first game, Malvika took an 11-5 lead at the break, and despite stiff resistance from Kjaersfeldt, the Nagpur girl kept her cool in the dying stages to win the second game 23-21 after both shuttlers were going neck-and-neck at 20-20.
The third and deciding game was a close affair as both shuttlers were going strong until 16 points. Malvika upped the ante and came out with her best attacking play to win four successive points and clinch the decider 21-16, advancing to the second round.
In the second round, Malvika will face world no. 10 Supanida Katethong of Thailand. In their only face-off at the Arctic Open, Katethong had defeated Malvika last year.
