Paris: 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 and took 39 minutes to brush aside Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Pin-chian 21-13, 21-14 in the quarterfinals of the $950,000 tournament.
However, it was the end of the road for the 27-year-old Chaliha, who had stunned three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the pre-quarterfinals on Thursday.
The world No 36 Indian went down fighting 10-21, 21-17, 16-21 to former world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Nozomi Okuhara of Japan.
Sindhu thus remains the lone Indian left in the tournament. She will take on Japan’s Hina Akechi in the semifinals.
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.
“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 go back and recover well for tomorrow and come back stronger. I still don’t know who the opponent would be,” Sindhu said.
