The year 2024 has been nothing short of extraordinary for Malvika Bansod.
At 23 years old, Malvika has shown remarkable poise, skill, and determination, emerging as one of the most promising athletes in the sport.
With a string of stellar performances across major tournaments, she is quickly becoming a name to watch in the badminton world.
The season began on a high note for Malvika with a commendable performance at the Azerbaijan International, held in Baku in February.
She won the tournament by defeating her compatriot Tanya Hemanth 21-15, 22-20. After a series of first-round exits, she secured a breakthrough victory at the US Open, reaching the semifinals before losing to Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira.
The highlight of Malvika’s year came in September at the China Open, where she defeated the reigning Olympic bronze medalist Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia in the first round.
She triumphed over Tunjung in straight games, 26-24, 21-19, proving that she is one to watch out for. She ended her wonderful run at the Super 1000 tournament by bowing out to Akane Yamaguchi of
Japan in the quarterfinals.
Malvika Bansod continued her rich vein of form as she came up with an upset win over Chinese Taipei’s Sung Shuo Yun in the first round of the Arctic Open Super 500 badminton event in Vantaa, Finland
She continued her amazing performance at the Hylo Open (a Super 300 event) by reaching the final before losing to Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark, becoming the first Indian woman to reach the finals of a Super 300 tournament or higher since Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu.
Despite the successes, the season was not without its challenges. Malvika faced seven first-round
losses, but this experience will serve as a valuable lesson, fueling her drive to improve.
As the badminton world looks ahead to 2025, Malvika has firmly established herself as a force to be reckoned with.
However, while her defensive skills and court coverage have been exceptional, there is room for improvement in her attacking game.
With her growing experience at this level and undeniable talent, the future appears bright for this young star.
Written By Rishika
