Sindhu beats Yamaguchi 2‑0 to become first Indian Japan Open champion

On Sunday, PV Sindhu delivered a commanding performance at the Japan Open Super 750, defeating Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21‑17, 21‑17 in the final.

The victory, recorded at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, marks Sindhu as the inaugural Indian champion of the Japan Open. It also represents her first BWF World Tour title in two years and ends a seven‑year wait for a Super 750‑level trophy.

Sindhu’s journey to the championship featured an early upset over world No. 5 Han Yu in the pre‑quarterfinal stage. Subsequent injuries forced her quarter‑final and semi‑final rivals to retire, giving her an unexpected advantage heading into the final.

The match opened with Sindhu’s aggressive mindset, quickly taking a 3‑0 lead after a successful challenge on the third point. Yamaguchi responded, leveling the score, but Sindhu capitalised on a string of opponent errors to lead 9‑7. The Japanese player then surged, capturing four straight points and shifting the momentum before the break.

After the interval, Sindhu intensified her attack, driving Yamaguchi to the backhand and extending the lead to 16‑12. The scores reached 17‑17 before Sindhu grabbed four consecutive points to seal the first game at 21‑17.

In the second game, Sindhu opened with a 6‑3 advantage, subsequently stretching it to 8‑3. Yamaguchi managed a brief comeback, yet Sindhu re‑established control, reaching an 11‑7 midpoint. Post‑break, the Japanese shuttler showed signs of pressure while Sindhu surged to 14‑7, later 16‑12. Yamaguchi narrowed the margin to 18‑17, but Sindhu clinched three straight match points, finalising the set 21‑17.

The win follows Sindhu’s December 2024 triumph at the Saeed Modi Tournament and underscores her resurgence on the global badminton circuit.