Malvika Bansod defeated Scotland’s Kristy Gilmour, who was rated higher, in a fierce Round of 16 match on Thursday to advance to the China Open quarterfinals.
The two-time Commonwealth Games medallist Gilmour was defeated 21-17, 19-21, 21-16 by the 23-year-old Indian shuttler in an hour and five minutes. Gimour is ranked 25th in the world, and the Indian is placed 43rd. Bansod has now lost two significant matches in the competition.
Bansod defeated Indonesian bronze medallist Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in straight sets in the opening round, setting a record for the seventh best in the world.
“The biggest achievement” of Bansod’s life, she calls this her first Super 1000 competition quarterfinal.
“This is the first time I will play a quarterfinal of a Super 1000 tournament so it is a dream come true and the biggest achievement of my life so far,” Malvika said after the match.
Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, the fourth seed and two-time world champion, will now challenge Bansod in the round. In her two encounters with the Japanese, the Indian has not been able to prevail in one of them.
