Assam’s Ashmita Chaliha produced the biggest victory of her badminton career on Thursday, stunning world No. 2 and three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 21-19, 21-18 in 37 minutes to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open 2026 in Paris. The 27-year-old Indian, ranked 36th in the world, described the second-round win at the BWF Super 750 tournament as a major confidence boost after a difficult phase in recent months.
“Honestly, it feels unreal. I’m still trying to sink it all in! Beating a player like Akane, who has achieved so much in this sport, is a really special feeling. Having come through a difficult phase, this win means a lot to me. It gives me confidence and reminds me that all the hard work is paying off. I’m just really happy and proud of myself today,” Chaliha said after the match.
The victory carried added significance as Chaliha had lost to Yamaguchi in straight games at the Denmark Open just last week. Rather than dwell on that defeat, she used the experience to prepare for the rematch in Paris, focusing on improving her performance instead of the earlier result.
“Having played her just last week in Denmark, I knew what to expect and I tried to learn from that match rather than think too much about the result. I just wanted to enjoy and play my best game,” she said, adding that patience, composure and concentration were central to her approach against the Japanese star.
“Against a player like Akane, you cannot afford to switch off for even a moment, so I tried to stay focused throughout the match and trust my game. I’m really glad I could execute my plans today and turn things around,” Chaliha said.
On court, the Indian took an early lead in the opening game, moving ahead 18-14 before Yamaguchi fought back to level the score at 18-18. Chaliha held her nerve in the closing stages to take the game 21-19. The second game remained competitive in the early exchanges, with both players level at 7-7, before Chaliha pulled ahead and maintained her advantage to seal the match in straight games. Her defensive resilience and ability to retrieve difficult shots kept Yamaguchi under sustained pressure, forcing the Japanese player into several unforced errors.
Chaliha, who claimed her maiden BWF World Tour title at the Korea Masters Super 300 earlier this year, will next face either Japan’s Olympic medallist and former world champion Nozomi Okuhara or Thailand’s world No. 8 Pornpawee Chochuwong in the quarter-finals. Yamaguchi, meanwhile, had finished runner-up at the World Championships in New Delhi earlier this year, losing to South Korea’s An Se Young in the final.
In another boost for India, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu also progressed to the quarter-finals of the French Open after defeating Japan’s Riko Gunji 21-12, 21-16 in 44 minutes.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assams-ashmita-chaliha-stuns-world-no-2-akane-yamaguchi-at-french-open-1466410-2026-10-23?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-10-23 14:13:00
