Ashmita Chaliha Upsets World No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi at French Open

At the French Open badminton tournament in Paris, Ashmita Chaliha secured a career-defining victory by overcoming world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi in two tight games, 21-19 and 21-18, in just 37 minutes. The Indian, currently 36th in the world rankings, built an early lead in the first set and held her nerve at 19-19 to clinch it, then pulled away in the second. Yamaguchi, who had finished runner-up at the recent BWF World Championships and had defeated Chaliha at the Denmark Open, was forced into several unforced errors by Chaliha's relentless defense.

Earlier in the season, Chaliha captured her first BWF World Tour title at the Korea Masters Super 300. Her next opponent will be either former world champion Nozomi Okuhara or Thailand's world No. 8 Pornpawee Chochuwong in the quarter-finals. Fellow Indian star PV Sindhu also progressed, beating Riko Gunji comfortably.