Indian Shuttlers Shine at Arctic Open

The BWF Arctic Open saw Indian shuttler Malvika Bansod deliver a remarkable performance by defeating World No. 23 Sung Shuo Yun, advancing to the pre-quarterfinals in a match that lasted 57 minutes. Bansod's victory highlights her growing international prowess, following her first title win in over two years at the Azerbaijan International. In contrast, PV Sindhu faced a disappointing early exit, losing to Canada's Michelle Li in straight sets, marking her return since the Paris Olympics. Other notable performances included Aakarshi Kashyap's win against Germany's Yvonne Li and Kiran George's victory in men's singles. The tournament's next stage poses a significant challenge for Bansod, who is set to face the winner between former world champions Ratchanok Intanon and Wang Zhi Yi. Meanwhile, the Indian contingent had a successful opening day, securing six wins out of seven matches.