PV Sindhu Reaches Semi-Finals at French Open 2026 Badminton Tournament

PV Sindhu has advanced to the semi-finals of the French Open 2026 badminton tournament, defeating Chiu Pin-chian in straight games. This victory marks her continued success in the BWF World Tour, where she has reached the last four in multiple tournaments this year. As the only Indian contender remaining, Sindhu's next match will be against either Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani or Japan's Hina Akechi. The Indian team faced challenges, with other players exiting early, but Sindhu's performance keeps hopes alive for the nation.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 23, 2026, 18:39 IST

PV Sindhu Secures Spot in French Open 2026 Semi-Finals

Two-time Olympic champion PV Sindhu has successfully advanced to the semi-finals of the French Open 2026 badminton tournament, keeping India's hopes alive. On Friday, she triumphed over Chiu Pin-chian from Chinese Taipei in straight sets, winning 21-13, 21-14 at the Arena Grand Paris. The match lasted 39 minutes, as reported by Olympics.com.

Match Highlights and Tournament Overview

Sindhu showcased her skills right from the start, leading 11-5 at the break in the first game before sealing it with ease. She continued her strong performance into the second game, quickly establishing a 7-0 lead and maintaining her dominance throughout. This victory marks Sindhu's second win against Chiu, having previously defeated her at the Asian Games 2026 last month.

This year, Sindhu has reached the semi-finals in four BWF World Tour events, including the Malaysia Open in January, the Australian Badminton Open in June, and clinching the Japan Open title in July. In the upcoming semi-finals, she will compete against either Indonesia's bronze medallist Putri Kusuma Wardani or Japan's Hina Akechi.

Current Status of the Indian Team

With Ashmita Chaliha's exit from the tournament in the quarter-finals, Sindhu remains the sole representative for India at the BWF Super 750 event. Chaliha had previously achieved a remarkable victory over three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the pre-quarter-finals but lost to Japan's Olympic medallist Nozomi Okuhara with scores of 21-10, 17-21, 21-16, according to Olympics.com.

The Indian men's singles campaign concluded on Thursday, as Ayush Shetty had to retire due to injury, and Lakshya Sen withdrew before his first match. Additionally, the men's doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with the women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, faced early exits.