Ten matches, ten defeats. That is PV Sindhu’s record against An Se Young. On Sunday in Paris, the Indian star gets an 11th shot at the world’s best women’s player, this time with a French Open title on the line.
Sindhu booked her place in the BWF French Open 2026 women’s singles final on Saturday, October 24, beating Japan’s Hina Akechi 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 in a 73-minute semi-final at the Arena Grand Paris. She now faces South Korea’s An Se Young, the world No. 1 and reigning Olympic champion, in the Super 750 final on Sunday, October 25.
Quick Facts
- Who: PV Sindhu (India, world No. 11) vs An Se Young (South Korea, world No. 1)
- What: French Open 2026 women’s singles final, a BWF World Tour Super 750 event
- When: Sunday, October 25, 2026. The finals session starts at 3:30 PM IST
- Where: Paris, France
- Semi-final result: Sindhu beat Hina Akechi 21-10, 20-22, 21-16
- Head-to-head: An Se Young leads 10-0
- Where to watch in India: Live streaming on FanCode; no live TV broadcast, according to reports
How Sindhu Beat Hina Akechi in the French Open Semi-Final
The opening game was all Sindhu. She took it 21-10 and looked in total control.
Then the match got nervy. Sindhu let a lead slip in the second game, the scores were level at 18-18 and again at 20-20, and Akechi grabbed the next two points to force a decider.
The third game swung back and forth. Sindhu went up 14-9, Akechi pulled level at 14-14 and briefly led 16-15. From there, Sindhu reeled off six points in a row to close it out 21-16, according to myKhel’s match report.
“It’s not over until it’s over, so I kept fighting for every point,” Sindhu said afterwards. She also kept her celebration short: “I’m happy, but it’s not done yet.”
One small note for score-watchers: most reports give the first game as 21-10, while one outlet listed it as 21-19. We have gone with the majority figure.
PV Sindhu vs An Se Young: The 10-0 Problem
Sindhu has never beaten An Se Young. NewsX reports that across their 10 meetings, the Indian has won only one game. Sunday will be their 11th clash on the circuit and their third this year.
An arrives in strong form. Onmanorama reports she won all her knockout matches in Paris this week in straight games. She also has a long history at this event and has won the French Open title before.
Sindhu knows what is coming. “I have to give her a good fight, a tough fight. Every point matters,” she said, adding simply: “Tomorrow is a different day.”
Think of it like a batter who has been dismissed by the same bowler ten times. The numbers are brutal, but each innings starts at zero. Finals also carry their own pressure, and that can cut both ways.
Why This French Open Final Matters for Indian Badminton
This is Sindhu’s first French Open final. It is also her second Super 750 final of the 2026 season.
The first one went her way. In July, she beat Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 to win the Japan Open in Tokyo, becoming the first Indian to win that title. It was her first Super 750 crown and ended a long wait for a major trophy.
A win in Paris would give Sindhu her seventh BWF World Tour title and a second Super 750 trophy in the same season. For a player who spoke of a rough 18 months of injuries and patchy results, that would be quite a turnaround.
Even a defeat would not erase the bigger story. Two Super 750 finals in one season suggest the two-time Olympic medallist is once again a regular presence on the final weekend of big events.
Sindhu’s Team Behind the Comeback
Sindhu credited the people around her for the revival. Her current support group includes coach Irvansha, sports science specialist Wayne Lombard, physiotherapist Hira, and Shreyasi, according to myKhel.
The fitness side matters in a match like Sunday’s. Against a world No. 1 who has not dropped a game in the Paris knockouts, Sindhu will need her legs as much as her smash.
What We Don’t Know Yet
- The exact start time of the women’s singles final within the finals session, which depends on the order of play.
- Full details of An Se Young’s semi-final win were not available when we published.
- Whether any channel will add a late TV broadcast in India. Current reports say streaming only.
How to Watch Sindhu vs An Se Young Live in India
- Streaming: The final will stream live on the FanCode app and website, according to NewsX.
- TV: Reports say there is no live telecast on Indian TV channels.
- Timing: The finals session begins at 3:30 PM IST on Sunday. Keep an eye on the official BWF World Tour website for the order of play and live scores.
Our Take
The 10-0 record says An Se Young is the favourite, and nobody should pretend otherwise. But Sindhu has already done the hard part this season by turning up in big finals again. If she can keep the rallies short, hold her nerve at 18-all better than she did on Saturday, and steal the first game, Sunday could get very interesting.
FAQs
When is the PV Sindhu vs An Se Young French Open final?
The final is on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in Paris. The finals session starts at 3:30 PM IST.
Where can I watch the French Open 2026 final in India?
It will stream live on the FanCode app and website. Reports say it will not be shown live on Indian TV.
What is PV Sindhu’s head-to-head record against An Se Young?
An Se Young leads 10-0. Sindhu has won only one game in those ten matches.
Who did Sindhu beat in the French Open semi-final?
She beat Japan’s Hina Akechi 21-10, 20-22, 21-16 in 73 minutes on October 24.
Has PV Sindhu won a title in 2026?
Yes. She won the Japan Open in July, beating Akane Yamaguchi in the final. It was her first Super 750 title.
For background on Sindhu’s run this week, see Olympics.com’s semi-final report.
Based on reporting by myKhel, NewsX, Onmanorama, Olympics.com and Outlook India.
Leave a Reply