Ashmita Chaliha Achieves Stunning Upset Over Akane Yamaguchi at 2026 French Open

In a stunning upset at the 2026 French Open, Ashmita Chaliha defeated world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi, marking the biggest win of her career. The Indian shuttler showcased exceptional skill and composure, winning in straight games. With this victory, Chaliha advances to the quarter-finals, where she will face either Nozomi Okuhara or Pornpawee Chochuwong. This match not only highlights Chaliha's talent but also sets an exciting stage for her future in the tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 22, 2026, 21:44 IST

Ashmita Chaliha Shocks World No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi at French Open 2026

In a remarkable turn of events, Ashmita Chaliha secured the most significant win of her career on Thursday by defeating Japan's three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the second round of the 2026 French Open badminton tournament. The 27-year-old Indian player, currently ranked 36th in women's singles, triumphed over the world No. 2 with scores of 21-19, 21-18 in a swift 37 minutes, according to reports from Olympics.com. Earlier this year, Yamaguchi was the runner-up at the BWF World Championships held in New Delhi, where she lost to South Korea's An Se Young in the final.

Match Analysis and Performance Insights

[object Object]

Future Matches

Looking ahead, Chaliha is set to face either Japan's Olympic medallist and former world champion Nozomi Okuhara or Thailand's world No. 8 Pornpawee Chochuwong in the quarter-finals. Additionally, PV Sindhu has also advanced to the last eight of the BWF Super 750 tournament, defeating Japan's Riko Gunji with a score of 21-12, 21-16 in 44 minutes.