PV Sindhu moves to French Open semis

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu cruised into the women’s singles semifinals with a straight-game win, while Ashmita Chaliha’s impressive run ended in the quarterfinals of the French Open Super 750 badminton tournament here on Friday.

The former world champion was in complete control, taking 39 minutes to brush aside Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Pin-chian 21-13, 21-14 in the quarterfinals of the USD 950,000 tournament.

However, it was the end of the road for the 27-year-old Chaliha, who had stunned Japan’s three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the pre-quarterfinals on Thursday. The world No. 36 Indian went down fighting 10-21, 21-17, 16-21 to Japan’s former world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Nozomi Okuhara.

Sindhu thus remains the lone Indian left in the tournament. She will take on Japan’s Hina Akechi in the semifinals.

While her victory over Pin-chian appeared straightforward, the world No. 11 survived a scare in her opening round against Thailand’s world No. 26, Supanida Katethong.

“I think I’ve learned my lesson in the first round. I was leading, and then I let her come into the match, and it was very crucial in the end. After that, I was more aware when I was leading. I didn’t think that it was easy, or that the game was over (against Pin-chian),” Sindhu said after her win.

“I still kept fighting until the end, until the match was over, because you never know. There might be matches like my first-round match, where I was leading by 10 points and then she covered the gap, and it was anybody’s match at that point,” she added.

The Indian had suffered a shock first-round defeat to lower-ranked Yvonne Li of Germany at the Denmark Open last week.

Sindhu has never won the French Open and is hoping to end that wait this year.

“Absolutely, it would be wonderful (to win the French Open). A long time ago, I played once in the French Open, but that was in a different stadium. I’m really hoping I can turn that into a win this time.

“It would be wonderful if I win here, and I’m really hoping for it. Of course, it’s not over yet. I need to recover well for tomorrow and come back stronger. I still don’t know who the opponent will be,” Sindhu said.