China’s badminton team secured only a single spot in the finals at the 2026 French Open, managing a 1–2 result across semifinal matches on October 25, with mixed doubles pair Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping advancing following a decisive late-match penalty against their French opponents, according to regional sports reporting.
Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping Survive Semifinal scare
Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping battled through a tense three-game encounter against tournament hosts Thom Gicquel and Éloi Delrue, ultimately prevailing after a dramatic late sequence. The Chinese duo built a 12–7 lead in the deciding third game before surrendering the advantage, allowing the French pair to pull level and nearly overturn the match.
The turning point arrived at 19–19 in the final game when the chair umpire issued a red card to the French team following two previous yellow cards for time-wasting. That penalty handed the Chinese pair a decisive match point, which Feng and Huang immediately converted. Meanwhile, fellow Chinese mixed doubles pair Guo Xinwa and Chen Fanghui suffered a 13–21, 9–21 defeat against Malaysia’s Xu Bangrong and Lai Peijun. Guo struggled physically on the court, limiting his jumping power during attacking sequences due to a lingering foot issue.
Zhe’an Hu Falls to Christo Popov in Straight Games
In men’s singles, Hu Zhe’an bowed out of the tournament after dropping consecutive games 14–21, 10–21 to Christo Popov. Playing their first career meeting, Popov utilized his experience as a dual-discipline specialist to control the forecourt exchanges and dictate the pace of rallies. Hu kept his composure throughout the opening game, mounting a late four-point surge from 10–19 down before dropping the frame following a net-shot pause and a baseline misjudgment.
During the interval of the first game, coach Sun Jun urged Hu to stay patient and grind down his opponent, but Popov maintained high defensive coverage and relentless stamina. The second game followed a similar pattern, with Hu falling behind 2–11 at the break. Despite flashes of tactical adjustments, Hu struggled to generate offensive variety against Popov’s court coverage, sealing his exit in straight games.
Malaysia Dominates Multiple Categories as Finals Set
Malaysian pairs asserted control across the doubles brackets, securing three distinct berths in the championship matches to emerge as the tournament’s most successful delegation. In men’s doubles, Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin defeated Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Bagas Maulana, while teammates Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun overcame Indonesia’s Intara and Joaquin. The two Malaysian duos successfully locked out both sides of the men’s doubles final.
In women’s doubles, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah continued their comeback trail by defeating Japan’s Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi in straight games, following up on their title run at the previous week’s Denmark Open. They advanced to face Japan’s Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto in the final showdown.
Championship Schedule on October 25
The tournament concludes with championship matches scheduled on October 25, highlighting the remaining international contenders vying for the 2026 title crowns.
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