NAGPUR: Malvika Bansod rallied from a game down to get the better of Ukraine's national champion Maria Ultina and advance to the second round of the Thailand Open BWF Super 500 badminton tournament in Bangkok on Wednesday.
After losing the first game 17-21, the 20-year-old Malvika brought parity by winning the second 21-15. Ranked 57 in the world, Malvika was at her attacking best in the deciding contest. Playing aggressively, she took a handy lead in the third game before dominating the same and winning the contest 21-11.
While Ukraine's best shuttler Ultina, who knocked former world no. 1 Saina Nehwal out in the 2016 Rio Olympics, failed to live up to her reputation as Malvika made it to the second round for the second time in an international ranking tournament overseas.
Since her dream debut in the Super Series tournaments earlier this year, Malvika has participated in six world tour events and earned a reputation as India's fast-rising shuttler. While Malvika had a dream debut in the India Open where she became only the second Indian to defeat Saina, the city girl finished runners-up in the Syed Modi International in Lucknow. Malvika lost the final to PV Sindhu in Lucknow and was the semifinalist in the Odisha Open too.
Thereafter, Malvika participated in the four international Super Series tournaments overseas including the Thailand Open. After failing to clear her first-round hurdle in the German and Swiss Open, Malvika made it to the second round of the Korea Open before she advanced to the pre-quarterfinals in Bangkok. In the Asian Championship too Malvika went down fighting in the first round.
On Thursday, Malvika will be up against Denmark's Line Christopherson, who stunned experienced Korean shuttler and fourth seed An Se Young 21-16, 11-21, 21-18.
