PV Sindhu storms into BWF French Open 2026 semifinals with 21-13, 21-14 win
Synopsis
PV Sindhu is the last Indian standing at the BWF French Open 2026 after a dominant 21-13, 21-14 quarterfinal win in Paris. While Ashmita Chaliha's breakthrough week — including a stunning upset over world No. 3 Yamaguchi — ended at the last eight, Sindhu is two wins away from a Super 750 title that would further cement her legacy.
Key Takeaways
PV Sindhu defeated Chiu Pin-Chian of Chinese Taipei 21-13, 21-14 to reach the BWF French Open 2026 semifinals in Paris .
Sindhu will face either fifth seed Putri Wardani (Indonesia) or Hina Akechi (Japan) for a place in the final.
Ashmita Chaliha exited in the quarterfinals, losing 10-21, 21-17, 16-21 to Japan's Nozomi Okuhara , after her career-best upset of world No.
3 Akane Yamaguchi a day earlier.
Ayush Shetty retired hurt against sixth seed Kodai Naraoka , trailing in the second game; Lakshya Sen had withdrawn before the first round.
Doubles pairs Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty and Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand both suffered opening-round exits.
PV Sindhu, India's two-time Olympic medallist, powered her way into the semifinal of the BWF French Open in Paris on Friday, 23 October, defeating Chinese Taipei's Chiu Pin-Chian 21-13, 21-14 in a commanding straight-games display. The world-class shuttler never allowed her opponent to settle, dominating from the first shuttle.
How the Match Unfolded
Sindhu made an authoritative start, taking the opening game 21-13 and carrying that momentum seamlessly into the second. She raced to an 11-2 lead at the interval in the second game, effectively putting the tie beyond doubt. Chiu attempted a fightback in the latter stages, but Sindhu closed out proceedings emphatically, sealing the second game 21-14.
Earlier in the week, Sindhu had also comfortably dispatched Japan's Riko Gunji 21-12, 21-16 in 44 minutes to advance to the last eight. Notably, Gunji had previously eliminated India's Unnati Hooda in the opening round, making Sindhu's clean win over her all the more significant.
Sindhu's Road to the Final
In the semifinal, Sindhu will face either fifth seed Putri Wardani of Indonesia or Japan's Hina Akechi, with a place in the final at stake. Sindhu, winner of a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, will be looking to add a Super 750 title to her storied career.
Chaliha's Stunning Run Ends in Quarterfinals
In a bittersweet day for Indian badminton, young Ashmita Chaliha's remarkable week in Paris came to a close as she fell 10-21, 21-17, 16-21 to Japan's veteran Nozomi Okuhara in the quarterfinals. Chaliha had earlier produced the biggest win of her career on Thursday — a 21-19, 21-18 upset over world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi — to reach her maiden Super 750 quarterfinal.
The world No. 36 Indian, who claimed her maiden BWF World Tour title at the Korea Masters Super 300 earlier this year, drew confidence from a previous encounter with Yamaguchi. Having lost to the Japanese star just a week before in Denmark, Chaliha reportedly arrived in Paris with a different mindset and was better prepared to neutralise one of Yamaguchi's most dangerous weapons.
Men's Singles and Other Indian Exits
Ayush Shetty's campaign in the men's singles ended when he retired hurt against sixth seed Kodai Naraoka of Japan. Shetty had lost the opening game 21-17 and was trailing 11-6 in the second when he withdrew. Earlier in the tournament, Shetty had notably beaten Kidambi Srikanth in the opening round.
Lakshya Sen had withdrawn ahead of his opening-round match, while star doubles pairs Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty and Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand had both suffered opening-round exits in Paris. With Sindhu the last Indian standing, all eyes will be on her semifinal appearance as she bids to go one step further.
Point of View
21-14 win tells only part of Friday's Indian badminton story — Chaliha's exit after beating world No. 3 Yamaguchi is arguably the more striking narrative of the week. The 24-year-old from Assam has been quietly building a résumé that warrants more systematic support; her ability to course-correct after a loss to the same opponent a week earlier in Denmark shows tactical maturity that goes beyond raw talent. Meanwhile, Sindhu's semifinal spot underlines her enduring relevance at elite level, even as Indian badminton looks anxiously for the next generation to carry the torch beyond her — a transition that Chaliha's Paris week suggested is not as distant as the exits of Srikanth, Sen, and the doubles pairs might imply.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did PV Sindhu win her quarterfinal at the BWF French Open 2026?
Yes, PV Sindhu beat Chinese Taipei's Chiu Pin-Chian 21-13, 21-14 in the quarterfinals of the BWF French Open 2026 in Paris on 23 October. She dominated throughout, leading 11-2 at the interval in the second game.
Who will PV Sindhu face in the BWF French Open 2026 semifinal?
Sindhu will face either fifth seed Putri Wardani of Indonesia or Japan's Hina Akechi in the semifinal, with a place in the final at stake.
What happened to Ashmita Chaliha at the French Open 2026?
Ashmita Chaliha lost 10-21, 21-17, 16-21 to Japan's Nozomi Okuhara in the quarterfinals on 23 October, ending her remarkable run. A day earlier, she had produced the biggest win of her career by upsetting world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi 21-19, 21-18 to reach her maiden Super 750 quarterfinal.
How did other Indian players fare at the BWF French Open 2026?
Ayush Shetty retired hurt against sixth seed Kodai Naraoka of Japan, while Lakshya Sen withdrew before his opening-round match. Doubles pairs Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty and Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand also suffered opening-round exits, leaving Sindhu as the sole Indian in contention.
What are PV Sindhu's Olympic credentials?
PV Sindhu is India's most decorated badminton player at the Olympics, having won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Games and a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She is considered one of the most consistent performers on the BWF circuit.
