Sindhu Scripts History: Reaches Japan Open Final, Faces Yamaguchi for Title

Indian badminton superstar PV Sindhu has powered into the Japan Open 2026 final, making history as the first Indian shuttler to reach the title match of this prestigious BWF Super 750 event. Her journey to the final included a dramatic semi-final win against China's world No. 4 Chen Yufei, who retired due to a hamstring injury while Sindhu was leading 21-19, 15-10. This marks a significant resurgence for Sindhu, who was ranked 18th at the start of the year and has now climbed back to world No. 9. This final appearance is Sindhu's first in a BWF Super 750 event and her first on the BWF World Tour since December 2024. Her victory over Chen Yufei was particularly notable, ending a five-match losing streak against the Chinese Olympic champion, with her last win against Yufei dating back to the 2019 BWF World Championships. The Japan Open, held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, is a key tournament offering 11,000 ranking points and a substantial US$950,000 prize pool, making it a critical stop for top players. Sindhu now faces home favorite and reigning world champion Akane Yamaguchi in what promises to be an epic Sunday showdown. Yamaguchi, world No. 3, also had a strong run, defeating Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani in her semi-final. With Sindhu holding a razor-thin 15-14 lead in their head-to-head record, and Yamaguchi having beaten Sindhu in their last encounter at the Australian Open 2026 semifinals, the final is set to be a fiercely contested battle for the coveted Japan Open title.