PV Sindhu has once again highlighted to the sports world why she is one of the greatest badminton players India has ever had. The two-time Olympic medalist made history as she won the BWF Japan Open 2026, defeating world number 3 Akane Yamaguchi in the final with a score of 21-17, 21-17. This victory was no ordinary win as it made Sindhu the first from India to clinch a BWF Super 750 title. Moreover, it has also put an end to her wait for a major title and made an entry into the Top of the badminton players globally before the BWF World Championships.
PV Sindhu Makes History at the Japan Open 2026
PV Sindhu entered the history books with her impressive performance in the final of Japan Open 2026
One of the most glorious days of PV Sindhu’s fantastic career occurred in Tokyo when she played in the final of Japan Open.
In the match against the native player Akane Yamaguchi, number 3 in the world, Sindhu demonstrated superb professional skills.
The match finished in straight sets with Sindhu winning in 21-17, 21-17. The match was number 30 in the rivalry between Sindhu and Yamaguchi. In the previous two contests, Yamaguchi won both.
Sindhu became the first Indian player to win a BWF Super 750 event, the oldest woman (31 years) to win a Super 750 event, and the champion of the first major tournament after the 2019 World Championships.
An Anticipated Comeback to Victory
Sindhu faced an uphill task before arriving in Tokyo, given her own standards.
Her last victory dates back to the Syed Modi International 2024, a BWF Super 300 tournament followed by numerous tennis tournaments where she made it to the final rounds but faced defeats by top competitors in the industry.
The journey had not been smooth sailing at all.
Long recovery after the foot injury followed by the younger generation of players entering the scene made every tournament quite challenging.
How Sindhu Outshone Akane Yamaguchi
The match showcased the strategic brilliance that has characterized Sindhu’s top performances throughout her career.
After falling behind in the first game, she stayed calm and did not rush but kept upping the intensity of her game until she reached a point where she earned another for points, bringing the score to 17-17.
In the second game, Sindhu quickly took control of proceedings and did not give Yamaguchi any opportunity to come back.
This time, Sindhu was assisted by her improved mobility on the court, smashing accuracy, great positional sense, and thoughtful decisions against one of the best defensive players in the world.
Sindhu also managed to stay calm and composed in crucial moments of the match, winning the battle in two games.
Months of Improvement Finally Produced Results
Although it might seem sudden, Sindhu’s rise has been happening over the course of the 2026 season.
Sindhu gradually moved from the 18th position to the 9th position in the world ranking. She showed continuous improvement in her performance against the strongest players on the BWF World Tour.
Many of her losses in the current season were against the world’s best players,
- World No. 1 An Se Young
- World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi
- World No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi
- World No. 4 Chen Yu Fei
The results of many of the matches were very close, which shows that Sindhu was already functioning at a top-10 level even before her big success at the Japan Open.
The title proved that the success is not fleeting and that she is really progressing.
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