FaktaHari – 24 Oktober 2026 | The BWF World Tour Super 750 French Open 2026 entered its quarterfinal stage on Friday (23/10), and Taiwan’s campaign suffered a double blow as male singles shuttler Chi Yu-jen and female singles player Chiu Pin-chien both bowed out in straight games, ending their hopes of reaching the semifinals. The tournament, held in Paris, had earlier seen Taiwan’s mixed doubles pair Ye Hong-wei and Chan Yu-chen stage a remarkable comeback to reach the last 16, but their run also ended before the quarterfinals.
Chi Yu-jen, ranked 23rd in the world, came into the match riding high after upsetting Taiwan’s top-ranked Chou Tien-chen in the previous round. However, he faced a tough opponent in Indonesia’s rising star Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah, an 18-year-old ranked 28th. The two had met once before at the 2025 Taipei Open, where Ubaidillah emerged victorious, and history repeated itself on Friday. Chi started strongly, leading 6-2 and 13-10 in the first game, but Ubaidillah reeled off eight consecutive points to turn the tide and take the opener 21-15. The second game was one-way traffic as the Indonesian controlled the pace, leading 11-5 at the interval. Despite a brief fightback that brought Chi within two points, Ubaidillah closed out the match in straight games.
In the women’s singles, Chiu Pin-chien faced a daunting task against Indian superstar Pusarla V. Sindhu. The match lasted only 39 minutes as Sindhu, a former world champion, dominated proceedings with a 21-13, 21-14 victory. This was their second career meeting, following their encounter at the Nagoya Asian Games, and Sindhu maintained her perfect record against the Taiwanese player. Chiu’s defeat marked the end of Taiwan’s representation in the women’s singles draw.
Taiwan’s mixed doubles pair Ye Hong-wei and Chan Yu-chen, ranked seventh in the world, had earlier provided some cheer with a gritty first-round win over American duo Presley Smith and Jennie Gai. After dropping the first game 9-21, they regrouped to take the next two games 21-17, 21-18. However, their journey in the BWF French Open came to an end in the next round, as they were scheduled to face the fourth-seeded French pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue later in the day. The match was played late on Friday, and despite a valiant effort, the Taiwanese pair could not overcome the home favorites, who advanced to the semifinals.
The French Open is one of the most prestigious BWF World Tour events, and this year’s edition has seen intense competition across all categories. While Taiwan’s singles players fell short, the performances of Chi and Chiu have nonetheless been commendable, especially Chi’s victory over Chou Tien-chen, which showcased his potential. The BWF circuit continues to produce exciting talents, with young players like Ubaidillah making their mark on the global stage.
Looking at the broader BWF landscape in 2026, the men’s singles category has been particularly competitive. Four different players have won the BWF World Tour Super 1000 titles this season: Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand (Malaysia Open), Lin Chun-yi of Taiwan (All England), Victor Lai of Canada (Indonesia Open), and Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan (China Open). This diversity highlights the depth of talent in men’s singles and sets the stage for thrilling battles in upcoming BWF tournaments.
In the latest BWF world rankings released on October 20, 2026, Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn holds the top spot with 91,115 points, followed closely by Denmark’s Anders Antonsen with 90,105 points. Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen is ranked fourth with 82,230 points, while Canada’s Victor Lai sits seventh with 79,845 points. The rankings reflect the consistent performances of these athletes throughout the year and add intrigue to the race for the year-end BWF World Tour Finals.
As the French Open progresses, fans can look forward to high-quality matches in the semifinals and finals. Despite the early exits of Taiwanese players, their efforts on the BWF stage have not gone unnoticed. With more tournaments on the horizon, including the upcoming BWF World Tour events in Asia, Taiwan’s shuttlers will have opportunities to bounce back and improve their rankings. The BWF season is far from over, and the quest for glory continues.
In conclusion, the BWF French Open 2026 has been a mixed bag for Taiwan. While the quarterfinal losses of Chi Yu-jen and Chiu Pin-chien are disappointing, the experience gained by these players will be invaluable for their future careers. The mixed doubles pair of Ye and Chan also showed resilience, and their performances suggest they can compete with the best. As the BWF World Tour moves to its next stops, Taiwanese fans will be hoping for stronger showings and perhaps a few deep runs to celebrate.
