Lakshya Sen clinched a remarkable victory, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty maintained their pursuit of the men's doubles title. However, PV Sindhu displayed immense resilience despite falling short in the women's singles quarterfinals at the French Open Super 750 badminton tournament on Friday.
Satwik and Chirag, the top-ranked Indian duo, triumphed into the semifinals with a commanding 21-19, 21-13 win over Thailand's Supak Jomkoh and Kittinupong Kedren. The duo, reigning Asian Games champions, secured their spot after defeating the Malaysian pair of Man Wei Chong and Kai Woo Tee the previous night. Their next challenge awaits against world champions and third seeds Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae, who emerged victorious over the Indian duo at the India Open final earlier this year.
Later, world no. 19 Lakshya Sen, vying for a spot in the Paris Olympics, staged a remarkable comeback to outmaneuver former world champion Loh Kean Yew in a grueling 78-minute encounter, winning 19-21, 21-15, 21-13. Sen, hailing from Almora, became only the third Indian to reach the French Open semifinals in the super series and world tour era, joining the ranks of Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy.
Sen, the Commonwealth Games champion, is set to face reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Sindhu, on her comeback journey from a four-month-long injury layoff, displayed courage and skill during a marathon one hour and 32-minute clash against Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei of China.
Although Sindhu fell short with a 24-22, 17-21, 18-21 loss to the defending champion, her tenacity was evident throughout the riveting battle. The last time Sindhu had defeated Chen was en route to her 2019 World Championships gold. Despite a better head-to-head record coming into the match, Sindhu faced a resilient opponent in Chen.
Throughout the match, Sindhu exhibited attacking prowess and agility on the court, matching Chen shot for shot. However, Chen's steady performance allowed her to maintain a slight edge, ultimately securing victory. Despite Sindhu's valiant efforts, Chen's precision and strategic play proved decisive.
In the decider, Chen showcased her skill with two sublime shots, including a well-placed drop and a late cross net, seizing a crucial lead. Although Sindhu mounted a comeback, Chen's consistency prevailed, clinching victory as the match approached the hour mark. Despite the defeat, Sindhu's resilience and determination were commendable, reflecting her strong comeback after a prolonged absence from the circuit.
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