Double Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu navigated a challenging path to victory at the French Open Super 750 badminton tournament held in Paris this week. In a contest that tested both her physical stamina and mental fortitude, the former world champion battled past Thailand’s Supanida Katethong on Wednesday to secure her spot in the next round of the competition.
The match, which lasted for one hour and four minutes, saw Sindhu initially assert dominance by claiming the opening game 21-14. However, the momentum shifted abruptly in the second game as the world No. 26 Katethong began to dictate the rallies. The Thai shuttler put on a commanding performance to level the match, handing Sindhu a lopsided 21-8 defeat in the second game.
The decisive third game turned into a nail-biting affair, with both players contesting every point with high intensity. Sindhu was eventually able to hold her nerve during the closing stages, narrowly edging out her opponent 23-21 to clinch the victory. Following the match, Sindhu admitted that the performance was not among her best, but she expressed relief at having successfully cleared the hurdle.
Reflecting on the match, Sindhu remarked, "Some matches you just have to find a way to win. Today was one of those." She credited Katethong for the intensity of the fight, noting that she struggled to maintain control of the game throughout. "I felt like I was trying to impose my game throughout, but somehow things kept slipping away. Will go through the footage and see what needs to change," she added regarding her technical performance.
The Indian star also highlighted the pressure of the final points, specifically mentioning a challenging line call that went against her late in the deciding game. "Even that challenge at 21-20, the shuttle clipping the line by a hair's breadth! Some days God really makes you fight for it," she shared. Despite the struggle, she emphasized the importance of the win for her campaign, stating, "I needed this win. End of story. Not the prettiest, plenty to reflect on, but happy to be through. Recovery underway, another battle tomorrow. One match at a time."
The tournament saw mixed results for other Indian participants on the same day. In women’s singles action, Unnati Hooda was eliminated from the competition after a three-game defeat to Japan's Riko Gunji, concluding with a scoreline of 18-21, 21-12, 17-21. Meanwhile, the men's singles bracket witnessed an all-Indian contest where Ayush Shetty rallied from a game down to defeat Kidambi Srikanth 19-21, 21-16, 21-12 in under an hour.
However, the tournament also marked a setback for India's top-ranked men's singles player and former world championships bronze medallist, Lakshya Sen. Sen provided a walkover to Japan’s world No. 9, Kodai Naraoka, in the opening round. This development follows a period of early exits for Sen in several major tournaments, including the World Championships, the Asian Games, and the recent Denmark Open. As the French Open continues, focus now shifts to the remaining Indian contenders as they prepare for the subsequent rounds in Paris.
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