Lakshya Sen, Satwik-Chirag enter Paris semifinals | French Open 2024

Lakshya Sen recorded a fine win, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also stayed on course for the men's doubles title but a fighting PV Sindhu fell short in the women's singles quarterfinals at the French Open Super 750 badminton tournament in Paris on Friday.

Satwik and Chirag, the world No. 1 Indian pair, who had won the title in 2022, cruised into the semifinals with a 21-19 21-13 victory over Thailand's world No. 32 Supak Jomkoh and Kittinupong Kedren at the Arena Porte de la Chapelle.

The Asian Games champions, who had defeated the Malaysian pair of Man Wei Chong and Kai Woo Tee on Thursday night, will next meet world champions and third seeds Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae, who had beaten the Indian duo at the India Open final in January this year.

Later world no. 19 Lakshya, who is trying to make the cut for Paris Olympics, also came from behind to outwit former world champion Loh Kean Yew 19-21 21-15 21-13 in a 78-minute clash.

The 22-year-old from Almora thus became only the third Indian to reach the semifinals of French Open in the super series and world tour era after Kidambi Srikanth (winner in 2017) and HS Prannoy (semifinalist in 2017).

The Commonwealth Games champion will face reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn, seeded eighth, in the semifinal.