PV Sindhu and Ashmita Chaliha Reach French Open Quarter-Finals, India Eye Historic Double Semi-Final Berth

India’s women’s singles campaign at the French Open 2026 has gathered momentum, with PV Sindhu and Ashmita Chaliha advancing to the quarter-finals of the BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament in Paris. 

Sindhu delivered a composed straight-games victory over Japan’s Riko Gunji, while Chaliha produced one of the biggest upsets of the tournament by defeating three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi. With both Indians now one victory away from the semi-finals, the quarter-final stage presents an opportunity for India to achieve a significant milestone in women’s singles at the Super 750 level or above.

Sindhu, currently ranked World No. 11, defeated World No. 19 Gunji 21-12, 21-16 in the round of 16. The Indian controlled the match with a strong attacking game, finishing both games convincingly and avoiding the late-match complications that have occasionally disrupted her progress in close contests.

Gunji, a former junior world champion, showed her defensive ability at several points, making Sindhu work for her openings. However, the Indian’s attacking quality proved decisive as she maintained control of the rallies and converted her opportunities.

The 21-12, 21-16 scoreline reflected a performance built around effective shot-making and strong finishes. Playing conditions in Paris have been described as tricky, with one side of the court considered less favourable. Sindhu’s ability to win the opening game comfortably despite those conditions added to the quality of her performance.

The victory also marked Sindhu’s ninth quarter-final appearance of 2026, underlining her continued presence in the latter stages of major tournaments.

For the Indian, the immediate objective will be to carry that consistency into her next match against Taiwan’s Chiu Pin-Chian, ranked World No. 24. Sindhu holds a 1-0 head-to-head advantage over Chiu, giving her a positive record ahead of the encounter.

The quarter-final is scheduled for 2:40 PM EST, according to the supplied schedule. Sindhu will be aiming to convert her current form into a place in the semi-finals and move closer to a potential podium finish.

Chaliha produces a breakthrough victory

Ashmita Chaliha’s progress has been one of the standout stories of the tournament. The World No. 36 defeated Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, a three-time world champion and the third seed, 21-19, 21-18 in the round of 16.

Chaliha showed considerable composure against an opponent known for her consistency, movement and ability to sustain pressure through long rallies. Rather than allowing Yamaguchi to dictate the contest, the Indian found opportunities to attack and made effective use of the spaces created by her shot placement.

The win represents a major achievement for the Assam-born shuttler, who now has the opportunity to reach the semi-finals of a prestigious Super 750 tournament. Her next opponent will be Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, ranked World No. 9. Okuhara advanced after defeating Thailand’s eighth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong 16-21, 29-27, 21-12 in a 77-minute contest. The Japanese player recovered from losing the opening game, saved herself in a dramatic second game and then pulled away in the decider.

Chaliha holds a 1-0 head-to-head advantage over Okuhara, according to the supplied figures. Their quarter-final is scheduled for 1:00 PM. The match will test whether Chaliha can reproduce the tactical discipline and attacking intent that helped her overcome Yamaguchi. Okuhara’s experience and ability to recover during difficult matches, demonstrated in the round of 16, make her a challenging opponent.

The possibility of two Indian women reaching the semi-finals has added another layer of significance to the quarter-final round. The last time India had two women’s singles players in the quarter-finals of a Super 750 tournament was at the French Open in 2019, when Saina Nehwal and Sindhu both reached the last eight. Neither progressed beyond the quarter-finals on that occasion.

Seven years later, Sindhu and Chaliha have another opportunity to push beyond that stage. Both face Japanese opponents in their respective quarter-finals, but their routes to the last eight have been different: Sindhu advanced through a controlled performance against Gunji, while Chaliha earned her place with a major upset against Yamaguchi.

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

For India, the immediate focus is clear. Sindhu must negotiate with Chiu Pin-Chian, while Chaliha faces the experienced Okuhara. Winning both matches would give India two semi-finalists in women’s singles at a Super 750 event, a notable achievement on the international circuit.

Sindhu’s assured performance and Chaliha’s breakthrough victory have created an encouraging position for Indian badminton in Paris. The quarter-finals will determine whether that momentum can translate into a historic double presence in the semi-finals.