Super consistent Malvika scripts history, becomes India's first Asian School champ

NAGPUR: A day after she became the country’s numero uno in the junior circuit, Malvika Bansod scripted history by winning India’s maiden gold medal in the Asian School Badminton Championship.
On a pleasantly cool Thursday evening, Malvika gave a superb display of her consistent play by executing the strategy well for a desired finish in the 7th Asian School Championship.Country’s first badminton gold in the Asian Schools is also Malvika’s maiden yellow metal in any international tournament.
Having pocketed the initial five points of the lop-sided summit clash, the 16-year-old city shuttler took just 25 minutes to seal the fate of Thailand’s Somm Sawangsri in straight games 21-13, 21-12.
Malvika’s dominance in city’s first international badminton tournament was such that the southpaw dropped just a game in the six-day meet in both the team championships and individual events. It took just 105 minutes, three matches and seven games for the talented city shuttler to wrest the Asian crown.
Elated with her first Asian gold, Malvika said, “I was expecting a tough match but to win like this is a soothing feeling. All went out well as per the strategy which was to stay positive and play attacking game depending on the situation. I haven’t played with much aggression and just tried to hit the smash with accuracy.”
On the guidance she received from her coach Kiran Makode during the event, Malvika said, “Kiran Sir on the sidelines is always a great support. He always corrects my mistakes and asks me to have a controlled aggression.”
For his first international gold as a coach, Makode said, “In both the semifinal and final matches, Malvika was consistent and gave a fine display of controlled aggression. Our strategy was to keep the shuttle high because both Thailand and Malaysian players are good at playing flat game. Malvika executed the strategy well to bring laurels to the country.”
Earlier in the semifinal, Malvika surprised top seed Atitaya Povanon of Thailand in a three-game, 55-minute thriller. After winning the first 21-17, Malvika went down fighting in the second game 20-22. In the decider, Malvika was at her attacking best as she turned the tables on Atitaya by dominating the same 21-12. The 20-22 defeat was the only game Malvika lost in the six-day event.
While Malvika scripted history, Indian shuttlers M Tharun (silver), Deepshikha Singh and the mixed doubles pair of Arjun Rehani and Likhita Shrivastava (bronze) finished on podium.
Malvika Bansod
For Telangana’s Tharun it was so near yet so far. In an exciting title clash against top seeded Kok Jing Hong of Malaysia, a charged up Tharun took control of the proceedings and was just four points away from the historic title before he conceded as many as eight points to suffer a heartbreak defeat. Tharun lost the 60-minute thriller 21-12, 17-21, 16-21.
“After I committed a couple of service errors, he grew in confidence and became more athletic. I tried to give my best but failed,” Tharun said.
In the mixed doubles, the India duo of Arjun and Likhita failed to get past the eventual champions and top seeded Malaysian pair of Yap Roi King and Gan Jing Err in the semifinals 11-21, 23-21.
Malaysian shuttlers in both the girls and boys doubles category emerged triumphant with contrasting wins.
RESULTS
Singles (Girls): Malvika Bansod (India) bt Somm Sawangsri (Thailand) 21-13, 21-12.
Semifinal: Malvika Bansod (India) bt 1-Atitaya Povanon (Thailand) 21-17, 20-22, 21-12; Somm Sawangsri (Thailand) bt Deepshikha Singh (India) 13-21, 21-17, 21-13.
Boys (Final): 1-Kok Jing Hong (Malaysia) bt M Tharun (India) 12-21, 21-17, 21-16.
Semifinals: 1-Kok Jing Hong (Malaysia) bt Teerapat Kleawan (Thailand) 21-13, 21-16; M Tharun (India) bt Muhuammad Shaqeem Eiman (Malaysia) 21-18, 21-16.
Girls Doubles (final): 2-Low Yeen Yuan-Valeree Slow (Malaysia) bt Haoran China-Tao Ying (China) 20-22, 21-16, 21-13.
Semifinals: Cui Haoran-Tao Ying (China) bt Kasturi Radhakrisnan-Wong Ling Ching (Malaysia) 18-21, 24-22, 21-13; 2-Low Yeen Yuan-Valeree Slow Malaysia bt Cheah Wen Jun-Chiu Jing Yun (Singapore) 20-22, 21-18, 21-15.
Boys Doubles (final): 1-Ooi Jhy Dar-Wyman Goh Wai Yap (Malaysia) bt Lee Shun Yang-Lee Yi Bo (Malaysia) 21-16, 15-21, 21-19.
Semifinals: 1-Ooi Jhy Dar-Wyman Goh Wai Yap (Malaysia) bt Sirawit Sothon-Tanodon Punpanich (Thailand) 21-16, 21-18; Lee Shun Yang-Lee Yi Bo (Malaysia) bt 2-Patrawat Termthanasak-Wongsathorn Thongkham (Thailand) 14-21, 21-18, 21-14.
Mised Doubles (final): 1-Yap Roi King-Gan Jing Err (Malaysia) bt Wan Muhammad Arif-Teoh Lexuan (Malaysia) 21-16, 23-21.
Semifinals: 1-Yap Roi King-Gan Jing Err (Malaysia) bt Arjun Rehani-Likita Shrivastava (India) 21-11, 23-21; Wan Muhammad Arif-Teoh Lexuan (Malaysia) bt 2-Kaninpong Yokard-Mesnee Loog (Thailand) 21-14, 21-15.