Paris, Oct 22 : India’s P V Sindhu survived a dramatic late fightback from Thailand’s Supanida Katethong to secure a place in the women’s singles second round at the French Open 2026 badminton tournament, winning a closely contested opening-round match 21-14, 8-21, 23-21.
The two time Olympic medallist needed 64 minutes to overcome the challenge at the Arena Grand Paris on Wednesday. Sindhu appeared to be in control during the deciding game before Katethong mounted an extraordinary recovery, forcing the Indian to work hard to close out the contest.
The victory was an important start for Sindhu at the Super 750 tournament, where she was seeking to build momentum against a field featuring several of the world’s leading players. Her ability to recover after losing the second game and withstand pressure in the final stages proved decisive.
Sindhu, ranked 10th in the women’s singles rankings, began confidently and took the opening game 21-14. She used her attacking strokes effectively and maintained pressure on Katethong, limiting the Thai shuttler’s opportunities to control the rallies.
However, the contest changed significantly in the second game. Katethong raised her level, improved her consistency and took advantage of errors from the Indian to win the game 21-8. The emphatic response levelled the match and forced Sindhu into a deciding game.
The third game initially appeared to be moving comfortably in Sindhu’s favour. She established a commanding 19-8 advantage and seemed close to securing the match without further complications.
Katethong, however, refused to concede defeat. The Thai player produced a remarkable run of 11 consecutive points, drawing level at 19-19 and turning what had looked like a straightforward finish into a tense contest.
The sudden shift placed Sindhu under considerable pressure. Having been just two points away from victory, she now faced an opponent who had recovered completely and was playing with renewed confidence.
Sindhu eventually halted the momentum and regained control in the closing exchanges. She secured the deciding game 23-21, completing the victory and avoiding an unexpected first-round exit.
The match highlighted both the strengths and vulnerabilities in Sindhu’s performance. Her strong start and ability to produce attacking shots gave her an early advantage, but the second-game collapse and the loss of an 11-point lead in the decider showed how quickly momentum can change at the highest level of badminton.
For an experienced player, the challenge after such a recovery from an opponent is often psychological as well as technical. A large lead can create expectations of an imminent victory, while a sudden reversal requires the player to reset quickly and focus on the next point rather than the score.
Sindhu managed to do that at the crucial stage. Instead of allowing Katethong’s comeback to determine the outcome, she recovered sufficiently to take the final points and advance.
The result also carried significance because Katethong had previously proved a difficult opponent for the Indian. Their encounter featured changes in control, with each player demonstrating the ability to dominate a game before the match was eventually decided by a narrow margin.
Sindhu’s progression kept India’s challenge alive in the women’s singles draw. She was scheduled to face Japan’s Riko Gunji in the next round, after Gunji defeated India’s Unnati Hooda 21-18, 12-21, 21-17 in another three-game contest.
Hooda’s defeat meant that India’s representation in that section of the draw narrowed, while Gunji advanced after recovering from the loss of the second game. Her result suggested that Sindhu would face another opponent capable of adjusting tactics during a match.
For Sindhu, the next challenge would be to improve her consistency and avoid the prolonged lapses that nearly cost her the opening-round encounter. Against higher-ranked opponents, such stretches can be difficult to overcome, particularly when the match reaches a deciding game.
The French Open is an important stop on the international badminton calendar, attracting leading players from Asia and Europe. The Super 750 designation places it among the higher-tier tournaments on the BWF World Tour, where results can influence rankings, confidence and preparation for subsequent events.
Sindhu’s performance came amid a busy period for Indian badminton, with several players competing in the tournament across singles and doubles events. The opening rounds offered opportunities for emerging athletes to challenge established names and for experienced players to test their form against strong international opposition.
India also recorded an important men’s singles result through Ayush Shetty, who defeated compatriot Kidambi Srikanth after losing the opening game. Shetty’s recovery added another positive development to the Indian campaign.
The contest between the two Indians was notable because Srikanth, a former world number one, brought considerable international experience into the match. Shetty, meanwhile, had to respond after falling behind, demonstrating the composure required to reverse the momentum against an accomplished opponent.
Coming back from a game down demands adjustments in pace, placement and shot selection. It also requires the trailing player to manage pressure while preventing the opponent from extending the advantage. Shetty’s victory showed his ability to remain competitive and adapt as the match progressed.
The result offered encouragement for India’s men’s singles contingent, although the draw remained challenging with several internationally established players competing for a place in the later rounds.
Another major talking point for India was Lakshya Sen’s withdrawal before his scheduled opening-round match. His absence reduced the country’s representation in the men’s singles competition and was an important development for the team.
Withdrawals can affect tournament prospects and alter the draw, particularly when a player is expected to be a contender for a deep run. The circumstances surrounding Sen’s withdrawal would be relevant to assessing his immediate schedule, but the available match report did not provide further details.
Despite that setback, the performances of Sindhu and Shetty gave Indian fans reasons for optimism. Both secured victories under different circumstances: Sindhu survived a dramatic late challenge, while Shetty recovered from an early deficit against a respected compatriot.
For Sindhu, the priority will be to carry the confidence of the victory into the next round while tightening her game management. Her ability to finish the match after surrendering a significant lead was encouraging, but the experience also highlighted the need to remain composed until the final point.
The Indian shuttler has previously demonstrated her capacity to compete at the highest level, including at the Olympic Games and major world-tour events. However, each tournament presents a fresh challenge, and success depends on adapting to opponents’ strategies and maintaining performance throughout long matches.
The opening-round victory should therefore be viewed as a step forward rather than a guarantee of a deep tournament run. Sindhu will need to deliver a more consistent performance against Gunji, who also demonstrated resilience in her own opening match.
The French Open provides an opportunity for the Indian players to earn valuable results against international opposition as the season progresses. Every round brings a different tactical challenge, making recovery, movement and decision-making crucial factors.
Sindhu’s narrow victory over Katethong was among the most dramatic results for India at the tournament. The Indian nearly allowed a commanding advantage to disappear completely, but her response in the final exchanges ensured that the match ended in success rather than disappointment.
With Sindhu moving forward and Shetty also recording a victory, India’s campaign remained active across the singles draws. The upcoming rounds will determine whether the opening wins can be converted into sustained progress at one of badminton’s major World Tour events.