PV Sindhu survives major scare against Supanida Katethong to win French Open opener

Indian badminton star PV Sindhu defeated Supanida Katethong 21-14, 8-21, 23-21 in an opening round match at the French Open held at the Tremblay en France arena near Paris.

What Happened

Sindhu won the first game comfortably and looked set for a quick victory after racing to a 19-8 lead in the decisive third game. However, she suddenly lost focus and went into a passive mode, allowing her Thai opponent to win eleven consecutive points and tie the score at 19-19. Sindhu then regrouped and managed to secure three match points, finally closing out the grueling encounter in 64 minutes instead of a routine finish under 45 minutes.

Next Match

Following this narrow victory, Sindhu moves on to face World Number 19 Riko Gunji of Japan in her next match of the tournament.

Context

Badminton matches often feature sudden momentum shifts where a comfortable lead can vanish if a player becomes passive. Early-round matches in major international badminton tournaments frequently test a top player's mental resilience before they face tougher opponents in the later stages.