-Olympics
Indian badminton player Malvika Bansod’s campaign in the Hylo Open 2023 badminton tournament came to an end after a loss in the women’s singles quarter-finals in Saarbrucken, Germany on Friday.
Malvika Bansod, 51st in world badminton rankings, lost 8-21, 14-21 to Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour, the world No. 25 at the Saarlandhalle indoor arena.
Playing her first quarter-final of the BWF World Tour 2023 season, Malvika Bansod was on the backfoot early on and conceded the first 10 points before opening her account.
In the second half of the first game, the Indian badminton player did a lot better and reduced the deficit to 16-8 but the Scot took the final five points to take the lead in the match.
The 22-year-old Malvika Bansod showed much more intensity in the second game and led Gilmour, who is eight years older than her, by three points at the midway break.
After the restart, though, Gilmour took control of the match and closed out the affair in 33 minutes.
This was Malvika Bansod’s second loss vs Kirsty Gilmour in three meetings. Malvika Bansod lost to the Scottish player in the two’s first meeting in a group match at the Uber Cup 2020 while the Indian, interestingly, was responsible for knocking Gilmour out in the second round at last year’s Hylo Open.
Malvika Bansod’s exit also wraps up India’s campaign in Germany. Mithun Manjunath had lost in the men’s singles Round of 16 on Thursday.
Results at the Hylo Open 2023, a BWF Super 300 event, will count towards qualifying rankings for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Featured Image: Hindustan Times