Malvika Bansod is making a strong impact in the world of badminton, showcasing the bright future of Indian badminton.

At just 23 years old, Malvika has been steadily rising in international badminton, currently holding the 29th spot in the BWF rankings. She recently reached a significant career milestone by advancing to the quarterfinals of the prestigious China Open. Competing without a personal coach, she relies on the unwavering support of her father, Prabodh Bansod, who has played a key role in her development. With notable victories over Olympic medalists such as Saina Nehwal and Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, she has established herself as a formidable presence on the global stage.

While Indian badminton stars like PV Sindhu, Chirag Shetty, and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy continue to dominate, emerging talents like Malvika are making their mark internationally. She is undoubtedly a rising star to keep an eye on.

During her impressive journey to the Syed Modi International final, Malvika defeated promising players like Aakarshi Kashyap. Though she fell short in the title match against two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, losing 21-13, 21-16 in just 35 minutes, her performance earned Sindhu’s admiration.

Before this, Malvika stunned her idol, Saina Nehwal, at the India Open Super 500, securing a dominant 21-17, 21-9 victory in just 34 minutes. She considers this one of the most significant wins of her career.

“Saina has been my inspiration as she has led the way for women’s badminton in India for over a decade,” Malvika shared after her victory. “She was the reason I took up the sport. Early on, I was in awe of her playing style and power.”

Malvika gained widespread recognition after clinching a silver medal at the 2022 Syed Modi International, an impressive feat in her debut BWF World Tour season.

Career Milestones:

• 2022: Silver medal at the Syed Modi International in her debut BWF World Tour season.
• 2022: Defeated her idol, Saina Nehwal, at the India Open Super 500.
• 2024: Won the women’s singles title at the Azerbaijan International.
• 2024: Reached the final of the Hylo Open in Germany, becoming only the third Indian woman to achieve this feat in a BWF World Tour event outside India.

Despite setbacks, including health challenges in 2023, Malvika’s resilience and dedication have helped her reach a career-high world ranking of No. 28. She continues to inspire aspiring athletes across the country.

In Her Words:

“Right now, badminton is my top priority. I’m putting in a lot of effort, and I’m happy with my progress.”

Let’s cheer for Malvika as she continues her journey, pushing Indian badminton to new heights!