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New Delhi : India’s badminton ace PV Sindhu returned to the top in spectacular fashion, defeating home favourite and World No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 to win her first-ever Japan Open title at the prestigious BWF Super 750 tournament.
With the victory, Sindhu became the first Indian shuttler to lift the Japan Open trophy, ending a two-year wait for an international title and registering her biggest triumph since winning the 2019 World Championships.
Playing in front of a packed Tokyo crowd, the two-time Olympic medallist delivered a clinical performance, combining powerful smashes, sharp court coverage and intelligent shot selection to outclass the three-time world champion. Sindhu controlled the tempo of the match from the outset, winning crucial long rallies and holding her nerve at key moments in both games.
The triumph was even more special as it marked Sindhu’s first completed-match victory over Yamaguchi in four years, ending the Japanese star’s recent dominance in their rivalry.
Beyond ending her title drought, the historic win signals Sindhu’s return to top form and provides a major confidence boost ahead of the season’s biggest international tournaments. Her commanding performance in Tokyo serves as a reminder that the former world champion remains a force to be reckoned with on the global badminton stage.
