Saarbrucken
Indian shuttler Malvika Bansod was defeated by Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt in the final of the Hylo Open 2024, a BWF Super 300 tournament, on Sunday night. Blichfeldt, the seventh seed, triumphed over sixth-seeded Bansod with a 21-10, 21-15 scoreline.
The 23-year-old Bansod, ranked 34th in the world, had shown strong form throughout the tournament, including a semifinal victory over Denmark’s Julie Dawall Jakobsen. This marked Bansod’s second BWF World Tour final, following her runner-up finish to PV Sindhu at the 2022 Syed Modi International.
The match saw an intense start, with Bansod and world No. 36 Blichfeldt tied at 9-9 in the first game. However, Blichfeldt quickly took control, clinching 12 of the next 13 points. Bansod briefly led in the second game, but Blichfeldt again raised her game, sealing victory in 43 minutes.
This final appearance made Bansod only the third Indian woman, after Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu, to reach a BWF World Tour final abroad.
