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.
PV Sindhu caps impressive run with a victory over Yamaguchi
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.
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.
Dominant second game seals historic title
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.