PV Sindhu defeated Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 to win her maiden Japan Open Super 750 title in Tokyo. The Indian star became the first Indian champion at the tournament and ended her two-year BWF World Tour title drought.
Pusarla V. Sindhu (Xinhua via IANS)
Former world champion and two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu captured her maiden Japan Open Super 750 title after defeating home favourite Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in the women’s singles final at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Sunday.
With the victory, Sindhu became the first Indian to win the prestigious Japan Open, ending a two-year wait for a BWF World Tour title. Her last title came at the Syed Modi International in December 2024, while the triumph also marked her first Super 750 (or higher) crown since 2019.
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Sindhu’s title-winning campaign featured several high-profile victories. The Indian ace defeated world No. 5 Han Yue in the pre-quarterfinals before overcoming Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei to reach the final, where she outclassed four-time Japan Open champion Yamaguchi.
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The victory also continued Sindhu’s strong record against the Japanese star, as she once again rose to the occasion on one of badminton’s biggest stages.
Sindhu made a bright start to the contest, racing to a 3-0 lead before Yamaguchi fought back to level the scores. The momentum swung several times in the opening game, with the Japanese shuttler holding a narrow advantage at the mid-game interval.
However, Sindhu raised her intensity after the break, attacking with greater purpose to erase the deficit. Although the scores were locked at 17-17, the Indian finished strongly by reeling off four consecutive points to clinch the opening game 21-17.
The 30-year-old carried that momentum into the second game, opening up an 8-3 lead before taking an 11-7 advantage into the interval.
Sindhu extended her lead to seven points after the restart, putting Yamaguchi under sustained pressure. The home favourite narrowed the gap to 18-17 with a late surge, but Sindhu remained composed, earning three championship points before sealing another 21-17 victory to lift the biggest title of her comeback.
The triumph marks a significant milestone for Sindhu as she returns to the winners’ circle and adds another prestigious title to her illustrious career.
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