PV Sindhu made history on Sunday, July 19, by becoming the first Indian to clinch the prestigious Japan Open title, triumphing over reigning world champion Akane Yamaguchi in Tokyo. The 31-year-old showcased one of her best performances in recent years, defeating the home favorite with a score of 21-17, 21-17 in just 50 minutes to secure her first Japan Open crown. The two-time Olympic medallist rediscovered her signature attacking style. This victory not only marked the end of a long wait for a major title but also added another remarkable achievement to her illustrious career.
This win was Sindhu's most significant since her World Championships victory in 2019 and her first Super 750 title. Her last trophy was at the Syed Modi International in 2024. Additionally, it ended a seven-year drought for a major BWF World Tour title. While she did secure a Commonwealth Games gold in 2022, an ankle stress fracture later hindered her progress and kept her from achieving consistent success on the international stage.
PV Sindhu Dominates 2 Straight Sets to Seal Historic Victory
Sindhu started the match with a strong start, quickly taking a 3-0 lead. But Yamaguchi wasn’t going to back down easily; she fought back to level the score. The opening game was tightly contested in those early exchanges, yet Sindhu gradually took charge with her sharp net play and well-crafted rallies.
She pulled ahead to 8-6 and then 9-6 with some powerful winners, but a few unforced errors allowed Yamaguchi to sneak ahead at the mid-game interval. Not one to be deterred, Sindhu came back strong after the break. She clinched a grueling 36-shot rally to tie it at 11-11 and then showcased her skills with precise placements, deep pushes, and aggressive smashes to build a 16-12 lead.
Yamaguchi made another push and leveled it at 17-17 after an exhilarating 38-shot rally, but the Indian shuttler kept her cool. With two critical points and a mistake from Yamaguchi, she wrapped up the first game at 21-17.
The second game mirrored the first but saw Sindhu maintaining control for longer stretches. She dominated the front court and won another lengthy 44-shot rally, racing to an 8-3 lead. Yamaguchi managed to close the gap to 8-7 for a moment, but Sindhu quickly found her rhythm again, heading into the interval with an 11-7 lead.
The Japanese player struggled to find her footing and even lost a video review as Sindhu extended her lead to 14-7. Yamaguchi made one last effort to come back, narrowing the score to just two points, but Sindhu responded with two powerful smashes to go up 17-14. Despite a couple of late mistakes that brought the score to 19-17, the Indian player kept her composure.
Yamaguchi’s final return went long, the review confirmed the call, and Sindhu celebrated her historic victory with her coach. This 50-minute win made her the first Indian ever to claim the Japan Open title.
