Rijiju congratulates Sindhu on Japan Open win
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju congratulated P. V. Sindhu on winning the Japan Open on 19 July 2026, hailing her as 'India's darling' and praising her for making the nation proud at the prestigious BWF World Tour Super 750 event.
Key Takeaways
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju publicly congratulated P.
Sindhu on 19 July 2026 via X.
Sindhu won the Japan Open , a BWF World Tour Super 750 event held annually in Japan.
Rijiju called Sindhu 'India's darling' and said she had 'made India proud again.' Sindhu is a two-time Olympic medallist — silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020 .
Sindhu has received support under the government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) launched in 2014.
Her Japan Open victory adds to her momentum ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics cycle.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday, 19 July 2026, congratulated Indian badminton star P. V. Sindhu on her victory at the Japan Open, calling her 'India's darling' and saying she had 'made India proud again.'
Context
Rijiju took to X to extend what he described as 'hearty congratulations' to Sindhu following her title win at the Japan Open, one of the most prestigious events on the BWF World Tour Super 750 circuit. The minister addressed her directly via her handle and praised her performance with the words: 'You have made India proud again!'
The post reflects a well-established practice among Union ministers of publicly acknowledging Indian athletes after significant international victories, using social media as a platform to amplify national sporting achievements.
Policy Backdrop
P. V. Sindhu is among India's most decorated badminton players, having won an Olympic silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics — the first individual Olympic silver for India in badminton — and a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She has also claimed multiple medals at the BWF World Championships over the course of her career.
Sindhu has been a beneficiary of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014, which provides financial and training support to elite Indian athletes. The scheme has been a cornerstone of the government's strategy to improve India's performance at the Olympics and other major international competitions.
Stakeholders and Impact
Sindhu's continued success on the international circuit is significant for Indian badminton and the broader sporting ecosystem. Her victories reinforce the case for sustained government investment in elite athlete development programmes such as TOPS and the Khelo India initiative.
For fans and aspiring players across the country, high-profile wins at Super 750 events carry symbolic weight, helping sustain public interest in badminton and competitive sport more broadly. Public acknowledgement from senior ministers further amplifies the reach of such achievements.
What's Next
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, Sindhu's performance at marquee BWF World Tour events will be closely watched as a barometer of India's medal prospects. The remaining BWF World Tour calendar for late 2026 offers further opportunities for Indian shuttlers to accumulate ranking points and build momentum ahead of the Olympic cycle.
Rijiju's congratulatory post underscores the government's continued interest in projecting Indian sporting success as a matter of national pride, a pattern likely to intensify as the LA 2028 Games approach.
Point of View
But it also reflects a genuine policy investment: the government has backed elite sport through TOPS and Khelo India for over a decade. Sindhu's Japan Open title, arriving within the Olympic qualification window for LA 2028, gives that investment a timely showcase. Rijiju's post, brief as it is, signals that the government intends to keep Indian sporting success visible at the highest political levels. The pattern suggests that as the 2028 Games approach, such acknowledgements will become more frequent and more pointed.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did PV Sindhu win the Japan Open 2026?
According to a post by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on 19 July 2026, P. V. Sindhu won the Japan Open 2026 , a BWF World Tour Super 750 event held in Japan.
What is PV Sindhu's Olympic record?
P. V. Sindhu won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics — the first individual Olympic silver for India in badminton — and a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics .
What is the Japan Open in badminton?
The Japan Open is an annual badminton tournament on the BWF World Tour at the Super 750 level, one of the most prestigious events in the international badminton calendar.
Who is Kiren Rijiju?
Kiren Rijiju is India's Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs, a senior BJP leader representing Arunachal Pradesh .
What is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) , launched in 2014 , is a Government of India programme that provides financial and training support to elite athletes, including badminton players such as P. V. Sindhu , to improve their Olympic medal prospects.
