Indian shuttler Ashmita Chaliha pulled off the biggest win of her career at the French Open 2026 badminton tournament by knocking out three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the second round.
The 27-year-old Ashmita Chaliha, who is currently ranked 36th in the women’s singles badminton, edged out world No. 2 Yamaguchi 21-19, 21-18 scoreline in just 37 minutes.
Yamaguchi had finished runners up at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi earlier this year, losing to the Republic of Korea’s An Se Young in the final.
Ashmita, who won her maiden BWF World Tour title at the Korea Masters Super 300 earlier this year, put her best foot forward in the opening game and led 18-14.
However, Yamaguchi, who had brushed aside her Indian opponent in straight games at last week’s Denmark Open, drew level at 18-all. With the scores then level at 19-19, the Indian badminton player held her nerves to take the first game.
Despite the close scoreline, the second game was a far more straightforward affair. After a close start, the two players were level at 7-all before Ashmita began to break away and comfortably led the rest of the game to seal a monumental win.
Ashmita forced her illustrious opponent into multiple unforced errors with her relentless retrievals.
The Indian will face either Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, an Olympic medallist and former world champion, or Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong, the world No. 8, in the quarterfinals.
Sindhu sees off Gunji
Joining Ashmita in the last eight of the BWF Super 750 event will be Indian ace PV Sindhu, who comfortably saw off Japan’s Riko Gunji 21-12, 21-16 in 44 minutes to advance. Gunji had knocked out Unnati Hooda in the opening round.
Tanvi, Ayush make an exit
It was not all good news for India, though. Tanvi Sharma ran into world No. 1, top seed and reigning world champion An Se Young and was beaten 21-11, 21-14.
Meanwhile, Ayush Shetty’s campaign ended in the men’s singles when he retired hurt against sixth seed Kodai Naraoka of Japan, having lost the opening game 21-17 and trailing 11-6 in the second.
Ayush Shetty had beaten Kidambi Srikanth in the opening round of this year’s French Open. Lakshya Sen had withdrawn ahead of his opening-round match.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty and Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand had also suffered opening-round exits in Paris.
