An Se-young secured her fourth French Open title on Feb. 25, 2026, overcoming India’s Pusarla V. Sindhu 2-1 (16-21, 21-11, 21-12) in the Paris final. The victory marks her third title at the BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament following previous wins in 2019, 2024, and 2025. Chinese sports media outlet NetEase highlighted An’s tactical adjustments and composure under pressure after she dropped the opening game to the 1-meter-79-centimeter Sindhu.
How An Se-young Overcame Pusarla V. Sindhu in Paris
Sindhu utilized her height advantage early in the final, pressing the South Korean star and forcing unforced errors during crucial rallies. Following an 11-11 tie in the first game, Sindhu rattled off three straight points to establish momentum and take the opener 21-16. Rather than folding, An altered her tactical rhythm at the start of the second game. The adjustment forced Sindhu to cover more ground across the court, leading to a surge in unforced errors from the Indian player. An raced to a 16-8 double score before taking the second game 21-11.
The gold slipped away, but PV Sindhu found something she had been missing: the feeling of fighting for a big title again.At the French Open 2026 in Paris, Sindhu reached her first final at the tournament and took on world No. 1 An Se Young.She started brilliantly, winning the… pic.twitter.com/IspRDdX2vJ
An Wins Third Game with Defensive Resilience
The final game remained tightly contested early on as both players locked at 9-9. An pulled away by chaining six consecutive points to seize control of the match. Her defensive resilience repeatedly neutralized Sindhu’s powerful smashes, wearing down her opponent physically. NetEase reported that An maintained her high-level execution through relentless daily training regimens, allowing her to preserve her exceptional offensive and defensive output right up to the final point of the 21-12 third game.
Championship History at the French Open
With this latest victory in Paris, An extends her run at the tournament. She previously claimed the French Open crown in 2019, 2024, and 2025. The 2026 victory adds another milestone to her career, reinforcing her status in women’s badminton. Chinese media praised her ability to stay calm when trailing and maintain rigorous focus when leading, calling the comeback win proof of an elite athletic mentality.
More on French Open
PV Sindhu Loses French Open Final To An Se Young, Vows Improvement#PVSindhu #FrenchOpen2026 #AnSeYoung #Badminton #BWFWorldTour #IndianBadminton Read it here: https://t.co/VAQfB6xLBq
PV Sindhu lost to An Se Young in the French Open 2026 final.#PVSindhu #AnSeYoung #FrenchOpen2026 https://t.co/h9AJPa8D7s
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