Ashmita Chaliha Stuns Akane Yamaguchi to Reach French Open Quarter-Finals; PV Sindhu Also Advances

India’s Ashmita Chaliha produced one of the biggest performances of her career at the French Open 2026, defeating three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in straight games to secure a place in the women’s singles quarter-finals. 

PV Sindhu also advanced to the last eight, keeping India’s campaign alive at the BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament in Paris. Chaliha, ranked World No. 36, overcame Yamaguchi, listed as World No. 2 in the supplied match details, 21-19, 21-18 in the round of 16. The victory was a significant breakthrough for the Assam-born shuttler, who took on one of the most accomplished players on the international circuit and delivered under pressure across both games.

The Indian’s performance was notable not just for the result but also for her tactical execution. Rather than allowing Yamaguchi to dictate the pace through her consistency and movement, Chaliha found ways to create openings and attack the spaces left by her opponent. One particularly effective pattern involved a cross-court placement that drew Yamaguchi into a difficult position before Chaliha directed the shuttle into the opposite corner.

The two-game victory gives Chaliha an opportunity to build on a major scalp as she enters the business end of the tournament. Her next opponent will be Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, who came through a demanding three-game contest against Thailand’s eighth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong.

Okuhara survives a 77-minute battle

Okuhara needed 77 minutes to overcome Chochuwong 16-21, 29-27, 21-12. The Japanese shuttler lost the opening game but responded in a second game that became the defining phase of the match.

Chochuwong had opportunities to close out the contest, but Okuhara held her nerve in an extraordinary game that extended to 29-27. With the match level, Okuhara carried that momentum into the decider, pulling away to win 21-12.

The result sets up a compelling quarter-final against Chaliha. Okuhara brings experience and the confidence of surviving a long, high-pressure encounter, while Chaliha arrives after defeating one of the tournament’s leading contenders in straight games.

For the Indian, the challenge will be to reproduce the discipline and attacking intent that unsettled Yamaguchi. Okuhara’s ability to extend rallies and recover from difficult positions could test Chaliha’s patience, making shot selection and control of the rally particularly important.

PV Sindhu also booked her place in the women’s singles quarter-finals, ensuring that India will have two representatives in the last eight. Sindhu is scheduled to face Taiwan’s Chiu Pin-Chian in the quarter-final.

The draw also features South Korea’s World No. 1 An Se-young against China’s Han Yue, while Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani is set to take on Japan’s Hina Akechi.

Sindhu’s progression provides another opportunity for the former world champion to make a deep run at one of badminton’s major World Tour events. Her quarter-final against Chiu Pin-Chian will be an important test as the tournament moves closer to the medal-round stages.

While Chaliha and Sindhu advanced, the French Open produced contrasting results for India’s other singles contenders. Tanvi Sharma was unable to get past World No. 1 An Se-young, while Ayush Shetty retired hurt during his match against Japan’s Kodai Naraoka.

Those results underline the difficulty of progressing through a Super 750 draw, where the depth of the field leaves little room for an off day. Chaliha’s victory stands out in that context: she defeated a multiple-time world champion and converted the opportunity into a quarter-final berth.

For Indian badminton, the focus now shifts to the next round. Chaliha faces the experienced Okuhara after a statement win, while Sindhu prepares for her meeting with Chiu Pin-Chian. Both will be aiming to extend their campaigns as the French Open 2026 enters its decisive stages.

Chaliha’s upset of Yamaguchi has already given India a major talking point in Paris. The next challenge is to turn that breakthrough into a sustained run against another formidable Japanese opponent.