HS Prannoy and PV Sindhu headline withdrawals from BWF French Open 2025.

The BWF French Open 2025 set to take place in Cesson-Sevigne, France from October 21 to 26, has witnessed a significant wave of high-profile withdrawals across all five categories.

With multiple top-ranked and seeded players pulling out, the tournament landscape has been dramatically reshaped, offering golden opportunities for lower-ranked players to advance further and gather valuable ranking points as the season approaches its final stretch toward the World Tour Finals.

In men’s singles, the event takes a major blow with the withdrawal of top seed and World No. 1 Shi Yuqi from China. The reigning Denmark Open runner-up’s absence elevates Anders Antonsen to the top seed position.

Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia, who has been managing his comeback from injury, and India’s HS Prannoy are among the other notable absentees. China’s Wang Zheng Xing has also withdrawn from the tournament, further thinning the men’s singles field.

The women’s singles field suffers even more significant losses with three seeded players withdrawing. India’s two-time Olympic medallist P. V. Sindhu, Korea’s Sim Yu Jin, and Thailand’s sixth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong headline the withdrawals. Chochuwong’s absence is particularly notable as she was expected to be one of the leading contenders for the title.

India’s emerging talent Shriyanshi Valishetty, Bulgaria’s Stefani Stoeva, and Thailand’s Supanida Katethong have also opted out, leaving the women’s draw considerably lighter than expected and opening up the field for remaining players to make deep runs.

The men’s doubles event has been affected by the withdrawal of four pairs. Denmark’s Frederik Sogaard/Rasmus Kjær, who have been consistent performers on the World Tour, lead the list of absentees.

Also Read: BWF World Junior Championships 2025: Tanvi Sharma clinches silver as India end 17-year medal drought

USA’s Presley Smith/Chen Zhi Yi, Denmark’s William Kryger Boe/Christian Faust Kjær, and the England-Italy pairing of David Sai Hang Li/Innocenzo Santoro are also among the notable withdrawals, reshaping the men’s doubles draw significantly.

In women’s doubles, the tournament faces a major setback with the withdrawal of top seeds and defending champions Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning from China. Their absence as the first seeds creates a wide-open draw, with Malaysia’s Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan now elevated to the top seeding position.

Other notable absences include Bulgaria’s Stefani Stoeva/Gabriela Stoeva, Japan’s Mizuki Otake/Miyu Takahashi, Denmark’s Kathrine Vang/Mette Werge and Natasja P. Anthonisen/Amalie Cecilie Kudsk, Indonesia’s Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti/Apriyani Rahayu, Poland’s Paulina Cybulska/Kornelia Marczak, and Canada’s Catherine Choi/Crystal Lai.

The mixed doubles category sees seven pairs pulling out, including India’s promising duo Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto, who have been showing improved form in recent tournaments.

USA’s Chen Zhi Yi/Francesca Corbett and Presley Smith/Jennie Gai, Malaysia’s Hoo Pang Ron/Cheng Su Yin, Denmark’s Rasmus Espersen/Amalie Cecilie Kudsk and Kristoffer Kolding/Mette Werge, and Canada’s Jonathan Bing Tsan Lai/Crystal Lai complete the list of mixed doubles withdrawals.

Also Read: All you need to know about prize money & points on offer at BWF French Open 2025

With crucial ranking points on offer and the World Tour Finals qualification race intensifying, the remaining players will be eager to capitalize on the reshuffled draws and potentially claim their breakthrough titles on the BWF World Tour.

Full list of withdrawals from BWF French Open 2025

Men’s Singles

• Shi Yuqi (China)
• Lee Zii Jia (Malaysia)
• HS Prannoy (India)
• Wang Zheng Xing (China)

Women’s Singles

• Pornpawee Chochuwong (Thailand)
• Sim Yu Jin (Korea)
• P. V. Sindhu (India)
• Shriyanshi Valishetty (India)
• Stefani Stoeva (Bulgaria)
• Supanida Katethong (Thailand)

Men’s Doubles

• Frederik Søgaard / Rasmus Kjær (Denmark)
• Presley Smith / Chen Zhi Yi (USA)
• William Kryger Boe / Christian Faust Kjær (Denmark)
• David Sai Hang Li / Innocenzo Santoro (England/Italy)

Women’s Doubles

• Liu Shengshu / Tan Ning (China)
• Catherine Choi / Crystal Lai (Canada)
• Kathrine Vang / Mette Werge (Denmark)
• Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti / Apriyani Rahayu (Indonesia)
• Natasja P. Anthonisen / Amalie Cecilie Kudsk (Denmark)
• Stefani Stoeva / Gabriela Stoeva (Bulgaria)
• Mizuki Otake / Miyu Takahashi (Japan)
• Paulina Cybulska / Kornelia Marczak (Poland)

Mixed Doubles

• Dhruv Kapila / Tanisha Crasto (India)
• Chen Zhi Yi / Francesca Corbett (USA)
• Hoo Pang Ron / Cheng Su Yin (Malaysia)
• Presley Smith / Jennie Gai (USA)
• Rasmus Espersen / Amalie Cecilie Kudsk (Denmark)
• Kristoffer Kolding / Mette Werge (Denmark)
• Jonathan Bing Tsan Lai / Crystal Lai (Canada)

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