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PV Sindhu survived a dramatic three-game contest to advance at the French Open 2026 on Wednesday, October 21, while India’s day-two campaign also featured a win for Ayush Shetty and exits for other leading players. Sindhu defeated Thailand’s Supanida Katethong 21-14, 8-21, 23-21 in 64 minutes, recovering after a late collapse in the deciding game to reach the next round of the BWF World Tour Super 750 event.
Indian results were mixed at the tournament in Tremblay-en-France, near Paris. Unnati Hooda lost to Japan’s Riko Gunji in three games, while Lakshya Sen handed sixth seed Kodai Naraoka a walkover before their scheduled match. Reports available on the day did not confirm the reason for Sen’s withdrawal.
Sindhu started strongly against Katethong, taking the first game 21-14. The Thai player responded with a commanding 21-8 win in the second game, forcing the match into a decider and putting pressure on the Indian two-time Olympic medallist.
The third game appeared to be under control when Sindhu led 19-8. Katethong then won 11 consecutive points to draw level at 19-19, turning what looked like a straightforward finish into a close battle. Sindhu regrouped in the final exchanges and edged the game 23-21 to secure the match.
The result kept Sindhu in the women’s singles draw after a contest in which momentum shifted sharply between the players. Her next opponent was listed as Japan’s Riko Gunji, who had earlier beaten fellow Indian Unnati Hooda.
Men’s singles player Ayush Shetty also featured among the Indian talking points on day two after defeating compatriot Kidambi Srikanth, according to reports from the tournament. The result sent Shetty forward and ended Srikanth’s campaign in the event.
The all-Indian match added a different dimension to India’s day: while Sindhu had to withstand a dramatic comeback from an overseas opponent, Shetty’s win came in a contest between two players representing the same country. Full score details should be checked against the official BWF results page before being added to any subsequent update.
Unnati Hooda lost 18-21, 21-12, 17-21 to Japan’s Riko Gunji. Hooda recovered to take the second game, but Gunji won the deciding game 21-17 to progress. The result meant Gunji moved on to face Sindhu in the next round.
Lakshya Sen was scheduled to play sixth seed Kodai Naraoka but gave a walkover. Initial reports said the reason for the withdrawal was not yet known. Unless an official statement clarifies the circumstances, the withdrawal should not be attributed to an injury or any other specific cause.
India’s tournament had already seen contrasting results on October 20. Women’s singles players Ashmita Chaliha and Tanvi Sharma advanced with wins, while men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty and women’s doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand exited in the opening round.
- PV Sindhu defeated Supanida Katethong 21-14, 8-21, 23-21.
- The Sindhu–Katethong match lasted 64 minutes.
- Sindhu’s lead in the deciding game reached 19-8 before Katethong levelled at 19-19.
- Unnati Hooda lost 18-21, 21-12, 17-21 to Riko Gunji.
- The French Open is a BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament.
Sindhu’s next match was scheduled against Gunji, setting up an important test after the long opening-round battle. Both players reached the second round after three-game matches, so recovery and consistency will be relevant factors heading into the next contest.
India’s remaining prospects will depend on the official draw and results as the tournament progresses. The BWF tournament page is the best place to confirm match times, withdrawals and final scores, particularly where early media reports do not include a full scoreline.
Sindhu’s win offers a reminder of the fine margins at elite badminton level: even a substantial lead can disappear quickly, and a match may hinge on a handful of points at the end. For Indian players and coaches, the day’s results also underline the importance of managing momentum, maintaining tactical discipline and preparing for physically demanding three-game contests.
SportsLine will continue to follow the Indian contingent at the French Open, with updates based on official results and verified reports. Any further information about Sen’s walkover or the complete scorecard from Shetty’s match should be added only after confirmation from the organisers or BWF.
