French Open badminton opens in Paris amid France protests: Pearly-Thinaah lead Malaysia's challenge

The BWF French Open Super 750 began in Paris on Tuesday 20 October, with Malaysian shuttlers in the draw as France deals with a wave of street protests. Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, fresh from their Denmark Open title, are among the Malaysians in action. The tournament runs until Sunday 25 October.

Malaysia's Wisma Putra said on 18 October that it had no reports of Malaysians being harmed or involved in the demonstrations. The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has also prepared a back-up plan with the embassy, according to the New Straits Times.

The tournament at a glance

The French Open is a BWF World Tour Super 750 event, held from 20 to 25 October 2026 at the Arena Grand Paris in Tremblay-en-France. Total prize money is US$950,000.

The winners of the singles events earn US$66,500, while each doubles winner receives US$70,300. Losing finalists take home US$32,300 in singles and US$33,250 in doubles. Super 750 status also brings a large share of ranking points, which matters as the season heads towards its final weeks.

Pearly-Thinaah arrive with momentum

The women's doubles pair of Pearly Tan and Thinaah return to Paris after winning the Denmark Open last weekend. The New Straits Times described them as returning to the French Open with their winning touch restored.

Their Denmark Open run ended a long wait for a title at that tournament, and the French Open gives them a chance to back it up in a second straight week. Other Malaysian singles, doubles and mixed doubles entries are also in the draw, but their first-round results were not available at the time of writing.

What is happening in France

Marches took place across France on Saturday 17 October. Reports estimated around 550,000 people took part. Some marches turned violent, with clashes, fires and looting later in the day. Arrest figures differ between accounts, from at least 272 to more than 1,000.

Reports linked the protests to school conditions and the cost of living. President Emmanuel Macron said there was no place for violence.

Advice for Malaysians in France

Travel to France is not restricted, but Wisma Putra has advised Malaysians to consider postponing non-essential trips until the situation improves. The Malaysian embassy in Paris has issued an advisory urging caution and vigilance.

Malaysians in France, and those planning to travel there, can register through the e-Konsular platform so the embassy has their latest contact details.

What comes next for Malaysian shuttlers

After Paris, the Hylo Open Super 500 takes place in Saarbrucken, Germany, from 27 October to 1 November. Lee Zii Jia is in that main draw. He is a reserve for the French Open, but his chance of getting in was reported as slim.

Key takeaways

• The French Open Super 750 runs from 20 to 25 October at the Arena Grand Paris.
• Pearly Tan and Thinaah arrive as Denmark Open champions.
• Wisma Putra reported no Malaysians affected by the protests and urged caution.
• The Hylo Open in Germany follows from 27 October to 1 November.

FAQ

Q: When does the French Open badminton finish?

The tournament runs from 20 to 25 October 2026, so the finals are on Sunday 25 October in France. Because Paris is six hours behind Malaysia at this time of year, evening matches in France finish in the early hours of the next morning in Malaysia.

Q: How much prize money is on offer?

The total prize pool is US$950,000. The singles winners receive US$66,500 and the doubles winners US$70,300.

Q: Is it safe for Malaysians to travel to France?

Travel is not restricted. However, Wisma Putra advises Malaysians to consider postponing non-essential trips and to register with the embassy through e-Konsular. Follow official advisories for the latest guidance.

Sources: Wikipedia (BWF tournament page), New Straits Times, Rakyat Post, Badminton Planet, The Star