- Sindhu reached another major final after winning the Japan Open title earlier this year.
- Sindhu reached another major final after winning the Japan Open title earlier this year.
- Sindhu will face the world No. 1 South Korean in Sunday’s final as she targets another prestigious title.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu booked her place in the French Open 2026 final after defeating Japan’s Hina Akechi in a hard-fought three-game semi-final on Saturday. The Indian shuttler registered a 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 victory over the world No. 22 in an encounter lasting one hour and 13 minutes to reach her second BWF Super 750 final of the year.
Sindhu, who won the Japan Open Super 750 title in July, displayed composure and determination to overcome a spirited challenge from the 21-year-old Japanese. She will now face South Korea’s world No. 1 An Se-young in the summit clash, with another major title within reach.
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“I am a little bit happy that I could pull off the match and play the finals, but I think the job is not done yet and I think I need to go back and focus for one more match,” Sindhu said after her win.
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Sindhu Holds Her Nerve In Three-Game Thriller
The opening game remained competitive in the early stages, with the players level at 4-4 and 8-8. Sindhu carried an 11-9 advantage into the interval before raising her intensity after the break. The Indian won 11 of the final 12 points to close out the game 21-10 in 18 minutes.
Akechi responded strongly in the second game, using deceptive strokes and disciplined defence to challenge the former world champion. Sindhu recovered from an early deficit and kept pace with her opponent, with both players trading points through the middle stages.
The Indian saved a game point at 20-20 following a net exchange, but Akechi created another opportunity and converted it when Sindhu hit wide, forcing a decider with a 22-20 win.
The third game brought another momentum shift. Sindhu moved ahead early, but Akechi fought back to level the score at 15-15 with accurate net play and a smash.
A crucial 38-shot rally ended with a net error from Akechi, allowing Sindhu to take an 18-16 lead. The Indian then produced a fine net shot and earned four match points after her opponent hit wide. Sindhu sealed the contest with a cross-court smash to secure her place in the final.
Sindhu Ready For An Se-young Challenge
Sindhu now faces a formidable test against An Se-young, who has been among the leading forces in women’s singles badminton. The Indian acknowledged the challenge posed by the Korean but said she would focus on delivering her best performance.
“I have to give her a good fight, a tough fight. Every point matters. We’ve played a lot of times and she’s been doing really well,” Sindhu said.
“She’s been at her top form, but I think tomorrow is a different day. I just have to go out there and give my best.”
New Support Team Helps Sindhu Regain Momentum
Sindhu also credited changes to her support team and a more measured training approach for helping her move past a difficult period marked by injuries and inconsistent results.
The Indian said she had worked to understand her physical and mental condition before rebuilding her preparation with a dedicated team that includes coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, sports science specialist Wayne Lombard, physiotherapist Hira and Shreyasi.
“There have been a lot of ups and downs and it’s been a rough run for almost one and a half years back then,” Sindhu said, explaining the importance of starting from scratch and assessing her condition.