Indian badminton star PV Sindhu continued her impressive run at the French Open 2026, securing a place in the women’s singles quarterfinals with a convincing straight-game victory over Japan’s Riko Gunji on Thursday.
The Indian shuttler defeated her Japanese opponent 21-12, 21-16 at the Arena Grand in Paris, completing the Round of 16 encounter in just 44 minutes.
Sindhu displayed a combination of aggressive attacking shots and patient rally construction to overcome Gunji, using her height and reach to dictate proceedings during crucial stages of the contest.
The Indian made a positive start to the opening game, establishing a 7-5 advantage with sharp net exchanges and powerful cross-court smashes. She repeatedly took the shuttle early, forcing Gunji into difficult defensive positions.
However, the Japanese player fought back as Sindhu briefly struggled to maintain her early momentum. Gunji managed to draw level at 11-11, putting pressure on the Indian to regain control.
Sindhu responded strongly, relying on her compact defensive positioning and excellent court coverage to counter Gunji’s attacking attempts.
Her ability to intercept clears and drives in the mid-court proved decisive as she began dominating the rallies. A series of steep smashes and precise net shots helped Sindhu pull away and claim the opening game 21-12.
The second game saw the Indian adopt a more measured approach, focusing on controlling the pace of rallies rather than rushing into attacking opportunities.
Sindhu used her reach effectively to keep Gunji under pressure, repeatedly forcing the Japanese shuttler to cover the baseline while waiting for openings to finish points.
Despite facing resistance, Sindhu maintained her composure during important exchanges and prevented Gunji from building sustained momentum.
Her combination of controlled defence, accurate placement and timely attacking shots allowed her to close out the second game 21-16 and seal her passage into the last eight.
While Sindhu’s performance highlighted her attacking strengths, her ability to remain composed under pressure will continue to be an important factor as the tournament progresses.
The Indian will next face either Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Pin-Chian or South Korea’s Sim Yu-jin, depending on the outcome of their Round of 16 encounter.
With another straight-game victory under her belt, Sindhu will look to carry her momentum into the quarterfinals as she continues her pursuit of the French Open 2026 title.
