PV Sindhu booked her place in the Japan Open 2026 women’s singles final on Saturday, becoming the first Indian shuttler to reach the summit clash of the prestigious tournament. The two-time Olympic medallist advanced after reigning Olympic champion Chen Yufei retired midway through the second game due to a hamstring injury, with Sindhu already in control of the match.
Sindhu had taken the opening game 21-19 and was leading 15-10 in the second when Chen was forced to withdraw. The result also ended a five-match losing streak for Sindhu against Chen and delivered her first win over the Chinese star since the 2019 BWF World Championships, a significant marker in a rivalry that has often tilted the other way in recent meetings.
How the semi-final unfolded
The semi-final turned on two key phases: Sindhu’s narrow first-game win and her steady lead in the second before the retirement. The Indian took the first game 21-19, a tight margin that underlined how closely matched the contest was early on.
In the second game, Sindhu built a 15-10 advantage, putting herself in a strong position to close out the match. At that point, Chen retired because of a hamstring injury, ending the contest midway through the game and sending Sindhu into the final.
Beyond the immediate result, the win carried added weight for Sindhu because it snapped a five-match losing run against Chen. It also marked her first victory over the Chinese shuttler since the 2019 BWF World Championships, highlighting the significance of this breakthrough in Tokyo during a week in which Sindhu has steadily built momentum.
Milestone moment for Indian badminton
By reaching the final, Sindhu became the first Indian woman to make the Japan Open women’s singles title match. The Japan Open is described as a prestigious tournament, and Sindhu’s run to the final adds another landmark to her career achievements.
Sindhu’s route to the final in Tokyo
Sindhu’s campaign in Tokyo featured a series of confident performances. The tournament run included a notable victory over World No. 5 Han Yue, a result that stood out as a major step on her path to the final.
In the quarter-finals, Sindhu received a walkover from former world champion Nozomi Okuhara, which helped move her into the latter stages of the event before Saturday’s semi-final against Chen.
Return to a BWF Tour title match
The Japan Open final also marks Sindhu’s return to a BWF Tour title match after more than two years. Her previous final appearance came at the Syed Modi International in 2024, which she went on to win.
Her most recent major BWF World Tour title, as noted in the report, was the Singapore Open Super 500 in 2022. Reaching another final at a top event is therefore a notable step in her ongoing resurgence on the BWF World Tour.
What’s next: Akane Yamaguchi awaits in Sunday’s final
Sindhu will now face home favourite and former world champion Akane Yamaguchi in Sunday’s final. The Indian will be aiming to capture her first Japan Open title and extend her strong week in Tokyo with a championship performance.
After the semi-final, Sindhu spoke about the importance of focus across the tournament and the value of every point when facing elite opponents. “I’m very happy that I’ve gone to the final,” she said, adding: “For me every match mattered a lot from the first match, especially today’s match. It was important from the beginning to be focused because when you play with the top-ranked players it’s important that every point matters, so winning that first game really mattered a lot.”
