Indian badminton star and two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu delivered a commanding performance to defeat Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in straight games and lift her maiden Japan Open title on Sunday.
The 31-year-old produced one of her finest performances in recent years, combining aggressive shot-making with tactical precision to overcome the home favourite and three-time world champion 21-17, 21-17 in the women’s singles final.
With the victory, Sindhu became the first Indian shuttler to win the Japan Open, adding another landmark achievement to her illustrious career. She remained composed during crucial stages of both games, using relentless attacking play to keep Yamaguchi under constant pressure.
The triumph also ended Sindhu’s title drought of more than two years and marked her first-ever BWF Super 750 title.
Her last tournament victory came at the Syed Modi International in 2024, while this is her biggest title since winning the BWF World Championships in 2019.
The Japan Open crown is expected to provide a significant confidence boost for Sindhu as she prepares for the remainder of the international badminton season.