Rising shuttler Malvika Bansod beats Gayatri Gopichand to clinch her 2nd consecutive international titles

In the women's singles summit clash of Annapurna Nepal International Series badminton tournament, Malvika trounced Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, daughter of India's chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand, in straight-set 21-14, 21-18 that lasted for 41 minutes.

Nagpur: Emerging Indian shuttler Malvika Bansod scripted history achieving a rare feat when the Nagpur teenage badminton sensation completed an international brace on Sunday.

In the women's singles summit clash of Annapurna Nepal International Series badminton tournament, Malvika trounced Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, daughter of India's chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand, in straight-set 21-14, 21-18 that lasted for 41 minutes.

It was Malvika's second consecutive international title. Earlier on Sunday, the Nagpur southpaw won Maldives International Future Series at Male on her debut.

During these two tournaments, Malvika lost just one game which underlined her domination in international tournaments, dedicated to youngsters. Her only loss came against Japan's Chika Shigeyama on Friday in Nepal. Except for that game, Malvika won rest of her matches in straight games - be it in Maldives or Nepal.

In a well-anticipated match, Malvika got off to a flying start in the first game and won it 21-14. Her domination continued in the second game too with Gayatri looked clueless against speedy Nagpur teenager. At one stage of the game, Malvika was leading 11-7. But Gayatri, world No. 325, made a good recovery to level the scoreline and then took a lead.

But Malvika, ranked 425, held her nerves and foiled Gayatri's flawless run to win the game 21-18 and eventually clinched the title.

It was the second time Malvika got better of her Indian counterpart in the international arena. In the India Junior International Grand Prix 2017 qualifiers, Malvika had defeated Gayatri 21-19, 21-13 at Pune.

In domestic circuit, Malvika and Gayatri are familiar faces. They knew each other very well. They played each other on several occasions in the All India junior rankings tournaments.

In 2018, Malvika scripted two successive wins against the Hyderabad teenager at Chandigarh and Panchkula to confirm her place in the 2018 World Junior Championship in Canada.

Following her historic win, an elated Malvika expressed her gratitude to chief junior national badminton coach Sanjay Mishra.

"I am very glad that I could win two back-to-back titles in my first exposure in senior international circuit. I am very grateful to my coach Sanjay Mishra Sir for his training and guidance. It was a fortnight-long tour having won the tournament at the Maldives last Sunday, I had to continue in the same tempo and focus," Malvika signed off.