Badminton: Malvika Bansod elated to be picked for Thomas, Uber and Sudirman Cup

India`s Nagpur-based shuttler Malvika Bansod

Maharashtra shuttler Malvika Bansod is looking forward to gaining experience as she plays alongside senior India players at the upcoming Thomas and Uber Cup [October 9-17 in Denmark] and Sudirman Cup [September 26 to October 3 in Finland].

Bansod, 19, has made the India cut for the first time and was picked on the basis of her performances in the recently-concluded selection trials, where there were also some automatic selections of players/pairs, who are in the Top-20 of the world rankings.

Two-time Olympics medallist PV Sindhu has not been included in the squads as she is focussing on her post-Olympics recovery.

For the Thomas and Uber Cup, London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal will lead the 10-member team that also comprises the top three singles players from the trials - Bansod, Aditi Bhatt and Tasnim Mir - besides three doubles pairs, including Tanisha Crasto and Rutuparna Panda, who clinched the top spot at the trials.

Bansod is grateful to the Badminton Association of India's (BAI) for conducting the four-day trials to select the teams. "I am thankful to BAI for conducting these trials so that all players get a fair chance to represent the country on merit. I felt very happy as I won all my matches. To represent India alongside experienced players like Saina [Nehwal], Ashwini [Ponappa] and Sikki [Reddy] will be the greatest learning experience for me and I want to make the most of it. I am keen to give my best in both tournaments," Bansod told www.mid-day.com from Ukraine, where she is currently in participating in the Ukraine International [September 8-10] tournament.

"In June, I won the RSL Lithuanian International tournament [in Kaunas], and now being a part of the Indian team for these prestigious tournaments, is a matter of great pride for me. I consider this as a turning point in my career, " added the Nagpur-based shuttler, who will turn 20 on September 15.

When asked about her sporting idol, Bansod was quick in her response: "Lin Dan. He is a legend and has won two gold medals at the Olympics. Also, he is a left hander like me," said Bansod, a first-year BE (Computer Science) student at SRM University in Chennai.

In the Uber Cup, the Indian women's team have been drawn in Group B along with Thailand, Spain and Scotland. For the Sudirman Cup, India have picked it's top two doubles pairs in Tanisha-Rutuparna and Ponnappa-Reddy alongside it's top two singles players from the trials, Bansod and Bhatt. The biennial tournament will see the Indian team competing against defending champions China, Thailand and hosts Finland in Group A.

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