IT WAS top seed Malvika Bansod’s match point. While returning Aashi Rawat’s drop shot, Malvika’s counter drop hit top of the netchord and fell on her side only. That levelled the score in third and final game at 20-20. The younger opponent from Delhi sympathised with Malvika for the lucky point.

Aashi took the luck in her stride winning two more points to effect biggest upset of the tournament, breaking hearts of birthday girl Malvika and a host of her home supporters who thronged the venue to cheer her.

Women’s top seed of the tournament was ousted in the second round by an unseeded player in three entertaining, gruelling and high quality games that lasted seven minutes over an hour at Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur

Aashi stunned Malvika, who turned 21 on Thursday, 15-21, 21-16, 22-20 in a match in which it was difficult to pick the better player...except for what the ultimate scores suggested.

After saving that only match point which Malvika had, Aashi, who trains under Pradeep Raju at Suchitra Badminton Academy in Hyderabad, looked totally exhausted and hurt one of her toes badly. All credit to her for hanging on for those two crucial points. Unforced errors from Malvika benefited the youngster.

Electing to serve, Malvika took a four points lead picking up form where she had left in the first round. Aashi levelled at 7-7 and that was her best in the first game. Relying on long rallies from baseline, Malvika made Aashi run all over the court. A perfect cross court drop gave Malvika the opening game in 17 minutes.

After change of ends, Aashi took lead at 5-4 for first time in the match. The experienced Malvika gathered herself up and was up 11-8 at water break. Aashi reeled in five points in a row for 13-11 lead. Malvika committed a lot of unforced errors, either hitting wide or long. She maintained the lead and reached game point at 20-15. Malvika saved one but a poor next serve cost her the game.

In the decider, after early exchange of points, Aashi went ahead at 4-3. A few of weak returns by Malvika were duly punished with smashes as Aashi took control at 11-8. The city shuttler won two points to close the gap but both players made some errors in judgement and soon it was 13-13. After a long time, Malvika look a slender one-point lead but that was short lived. Pendulum swung each point. It was 17-17, 18-18, 19-19 and then Malvika had that match point.