PV Sindhu Cruises Into French Open Semi-Finals
PV Sindhu dominates Chiu Pin-chian in straight games to reach the French Open semi-finals. Read more about India's badminton campaign.
Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu has ensured that India's hopes remain alive at the French Open 2026. In a commanding performance on Friday, the world No. 11 shuttler dismantled Chinese Taipei's Chiu Pin-chian in straight games to secure her spot in the women's singles semi-finals.
Total Dominance at Arena Grand Paris
The quarter-final clash at the Arena Grand Paris was a one-sided affair, with Sindhu asserting her authority from the very first serve. The Indian star needed only 39 minutes to wrap up the contest, defeating the world No. 17 with a scoreline of 21-13, 21-14.
Sindhu's control was evident in the opening game, where she surged to an 11-5 lead by the interval before comfortably sealing the set. She didn't let up in the second game, racing to a blistering 7-0 start and maintaining a steady grip on the match until the final point.
A Familiar Victory
This win further cements Sindhu's psychological edge over her opponent. This is the second time she has beaten Chiu Pin-chian recently, having previously defeated the Chinese Taipei player during the Asian Games 2026 last month.
A Strong Year on the BWF World Tour
The semi-final berth in Paris marks Sindhu's fourth time reaching the last four of a BWF World Tour event this year. Her consistent form in 2026 includes:
- Malaysia Open: Reached the semi-finals in January.
- Australian Badminton Open: Reached the semi-finals in June.
- Japan Open: Clinched the title in July.
Looking ahead to Saturday, Sindhu will face a tough challenge in the semi-finals. She is set to play against either Japan's Hina Akechi or Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani, a World Championships bronze medalist.
Mixed Fortunes for India
While Sindhu shines, the French Open has been a rollercoaster for the rest of the Indian contingent. PV Sindhu is now the sole remaining Indian contender at the BWF Super 750 tournament.
Earlier on Friday, Ashmita Chaliha exited the competition in the quarter-finals. Chaliha had previously captured headlines by defeating three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi—the biggest win of her career—but ultimately fell to Japan's Olympic medalist Nozomi Okuhara in a hard-fought match (21-10, 17-21, 21-16).
Other Indian Exits
The men's campaign faced a premature end on Thursday. Ayush Shetty was forced to retire hurt, and Lakshya Sen withdrew from his opening-round match.
The doubles categories also saw early disappointments, as the top-seeded men's pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with the women's duo of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, were both knocked out in the first round.