'Silver Feels Good, But Gold Would Have Been Better': Malvika Bansod Reflects On Hylo Open Final

Add as a preferred source on Google

Rising Indian badminton star Malvika Bansod showcased her talent at the Hylo Open Super 300, finishing as the runner-up after an intense final against Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt. Despite her loss, Bansod's performance was commendable.

Especially as she notched impressive victories along the way, including a significant win over fourth seed Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam. In the final, the 23-year-old struggled to keep pace with Blichfeldt, ultimately conceding the match in 43 minutes with scores of 10-21, 15-21.

Reflecting on her achievement, Malvika expressed a mix of satisfaction and determination, stating, "I'm happy that I won the silver medal, but I would have been happier to win the gold. The second game was really tough, but I'm pleased with my overall performance in the tournament. Yes, I'm satisfied with the silver."

In the second game, she demonstrated resilience, initially leading 11-8. She commented on her ability to control the rallies: "I was able to control the rallies, and she was getting tired during them, allowing me to gain command. However, she made a brilliant comeback, and it became very difficult to manage toward the end."

The Nagpur shuttler acknowledged the challenges of facing a seasoned player like Blichfeldt, highlighting her height and experience: "She is a very tall athlete with good reach and strong smashes, and she is much more experienced than I am. I learned a lot from the match and look forward to delivering similar performances in the future."

This marks Malvika's second appearance in a major final, building her confidence after her 2022 experience at the Syed Modi tournament. She concluded, "That gives me a lot of confidence; I'm looking forward to more." As she continues her ascent in the sport, fans eagerly await her next chapter.