Indians aim to end title drought at their favourite French Open 2025, Super 750 venue in France here’s where to watch live
The BWF World Tour moves to Europe once again, and for Indian badminton fans, all eyes will be on Lakshya Sen and the formidable men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, as they headline India’s campaign at the French Open 2025, beginning Tuesday at the Glaz Arena in Cesson-Sévigné. The Super 750 tournament, one of the most prestigious on the BWF calendar, will see India field a strong contingent across all five disciplines. After a mixed run at the Denmark Open last week, the Indian shuttlers arrive in France searching for momentum and, more importantly, a long-overdue title on the world circuit.
The spotlight, as always, falls on the reigning Asian Games champions and World No. 6 duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who return to one of their happiest hunting grounds. The French Open has been special for the pair they lifted their first-ever Super 750 title here in 2022, and repeated the feat two years later in 2024.
Coming into the tournament, the Indians have reached two finals at the Hong Kong Open and China Masters and most recently made the semifinals at the Denmark Open. However, what’s missing from their otherwise consistent 2025 campaign is silverware. They start their campaign in Rennes against Muhammad Rian Ardianto and Rahmat Hidayat of Indonesia, a pair they narrowly beat in Odense just last week in a tight three-game quarterfinal. The Indians will look to assert early dominance and set the tone for another deep run.
After a mid-season plagued by minor injuries, Satwik and Chirag have shown renewed chemistry in the last two months, blending aggression at the net with sharp midcourt exchanges. Having also clinched a bronze medal at the World Championships in Paris earlier this year, they’ll feel right at home in France a venue where their attacking style has historically flourished. With the Paris crowd often favouring their flair and energy, Sat–Chi’s challenge will be maintaining physical sharpness through a demanding draw that includes pairs like Liang Wang (CHN), Kim Astrup–Anders Rasmussen (DEN), and reigning world champions Kang Min-hyuk–Seo Seung-jae (KOR).
A title here would not only end their season’s title drought but also reinforce their position as the best non-Chinese pair on the circuit ahead of the World Tour Finals in December.
Lakshya Sen Seeks Rhythm and Redemption
For Lakshya Sen, 2025 has been a season of ups and downs. Despite flashes of brilliance including a runner-up finish at the Hong Kong Open and a quarterfinal showing at the Denmark Open inconsistency has been his biggest challenge. Ten first-round exits this year tell a story of unsteady form, but recent performances suggest the tide could be turning.
At 23, the Paris 2024 Olympic semi-finalist remains one of India’s most promising singles players, and his quarterfinal victory over World No. 2 Anders Antonsen in Odense last week was a reminder of his capability to beat the best. In the French Open, Lakshya opens against Nhat Nguyen of Ireland, a familiar opponent. The Indian leads their head-to-head 3–1 and defeated Nguyen just last week in Denmark in a three-game thriller. Another win could set up a potential clash with higher-seeded players like Shi Yu Qi or Kodai Naraoka, offering Lakshya a chance to test his consistency against top-tier competition.
Lakshya’s tactical depth his ability to switch from patient rallies to explosive flat exchanges remains his biggest strength. However, his challenge this week will be maintaining composure during crunch points, something that has cost him matches this season.
Joining Lakshya in men’s singles is Ayush Shetty, who earlier this year claimed his maiden BWF World Tour title at the US Open. However, since then, he’s endured a difficult stretch, losing in the first round of his last four tournaments. Ayush faces Japan’s Koki Watanabe in the opener the same player who defeated him at the 2024 Canada Open. The young Indian will be eager to avenge that loss and regain rhythm before the Asian leg concludes.
In women’s singles, three of India’s brightest prospects Anmol Kharb, Unnati Hooda, and Anupama Upadhyaya will carry the baton in the absence of PV Sindhu, who has withdrawn from the event. Anmol Kharb, who impressed with a semifinal finish at the Arctic Open Super 500, faces a formidable first-round test against An Se-young, the top seed and reigning world champion from Korea. Anupama will take on China’s Han Yue, while Unnati, fresh from a World Junior Championships quarterfinal, meets Malaysia’s Karupathevan Letshanaa.
While results may be hard to come by against such elite opposition, these matchups provide invaluable exposure for India’s next generation of women’s singles players.
Doubles and Mixed Events: Building Partnerships
Beyond Satwik–Chirag, India will field two other men’s doubles pairs Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy–Sai Pratheek K, who continue to gain experience at the Super 500 and 750 level.
In women’s doubles, an all-Indian first-round clash will feature Kavipriya Selvam–Simran Singhi taking on Rutaparna–Swetaparna Panda a matchup that guarantees at least one Indian pair in the second round.
The mixed doubles campaign will see Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto spearhead India’s challenge, with Rohan Kapoor and Rutvika Shivani Gadde also in the draw. Dhruv and Tanisha, who showed promise at the Arctic Open earlier this month, will look to consolidate their partnership before the upcoming World Tour Finals qualification push.
Where to Watch French Open 2025 Badminton Live in India
Fans can catch all the action from the French Open 2025 live via BWF TV’s official YouTube channel, which will stream matches throughout the week. There will be no live television broadcast in India, making YouTube the go-to platform for live coverage and replays.
India’s Full Squad at the French Open 2025
Men’s Singles: Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty
Women’s Singles: Anmol Kharb, Unnati Hooda, Anupama Upadhyaya
Men’s Doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy–Chirag Shetty, Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy–Sai Pratheek K
Women’s Doubles: Kavipriya Selvam–Simran Singhi, Rutaparna Panda–Swetaparna Panda
Mixed Doubles: Dhruv Kapila–Tanisha Crasto, Rohan Kapoor–Rutvika Shivani Gadde
The French Open arrives at a critical juncture in the season. For Satwik and Chirag, it’s about reaffirming their world-class credentials and turning consistency into a trophy. For Lakshya Sen, it’s about momentum stitching together performances that define confidence ahead of the season’s final stretch.
With a mix of experience and youthful promise, India’s presence in Rennes embodies both stability and future potential. A strong showing here could well set the tone for a grand finish to 2025.
