Changzhou, Sep 20 (UNI) India's Malvika Bansod was eliminated from the China Open 2024 badminton tournament after a straight-sets defeat to Japan's two-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the women's singles quarterfinals on Friday.
Bansod, ranked 43rd in the world, was beaten 21-10, 21-16 in just 35 minutes by Yamaguchi, who is ranked eighth globally. The loss ended India’s participation in the final BWF Super 1000 tournament of the year.
Yamaguchi dominated from the start, taking a commanding 11-4 lead in the first game before sealing the victory. Bansod put up a stronger fight in the second game, but Yamaguchi, the fourth seed, proved too strong.