NAGPUR: Star Nagpur shuttler Malvika Bansod made history on Saturday in Saarbrücken, Germany, becoming the first Indian to reach the finals of the Hylo Open.
The 23-year-old rallied impressively to defeat Denmark’s Julie Jakobsen in a tough semifinal match, winning 23-21, 21-18, to secure her spot in the women’s singles final.
In her first encounter with Jakobsen, ranked 38th, Malvika displayed composure even while trailing by five points in the opening game. She fought back to equalize at 13-13, eventually clinching the first game 23-21. The second game saw Malvika start strong, gaining an 11-4 lead and maintaining control to win 21-18, wrapping up the match in 44 minutes.
Malvika will now face Denmark’s seventh seed, Mia Blichfeldtin the final. Blichfeldt defeated compatriot Line Christophersen in the other semifinal, 21-19, 21-12.
On her way to the semifinals, Malvika, ranked 34th in the world, triumphed over fourth-seed Nguyen Thuy Linh from Vietnam in a decisive 21-15, 21-17 victory, becoming the first Indian to reach this stage since PV Sindhu.
Malvika, hoping for a breakthrough on the circuit, had created a stir at China Open beating Paris Olympics bronze medallist Gregoria MariskaTunjung. But a title run has eluded her, as she navigates the tough world of elite badminton.
