PV Sindhu scripted history on Sunday at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, becoming the first Indian to win the Japan Open — a Super 750 BWF World Tour title — by defeating four-time champion and home favourite Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in the women's singles final. The victory ended Sindhu's seven-year wait for a Super 750 or higher-level crown and her two-year drought without a BWF World Tour title of any kind.

How Sindhu Won It

The 31-year-old two-time Olympic medallist delivered a composed performance across a demanding draw. En route to the final, she eliminated Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei and world No. 5 Han Yue — two of the circuit's most formidable opponents. In the final itself, the opening game was evenly poised at 17-17 before Sindhu reeled off four consecutive points to take the opener. She carried that momentum into the second game, building a commanding lead and withstanding a late Yamaguchi surge to seal the match in straight games.

What Sindhu Said After the Win

An emotional Sindhu acknowledged the personal weight of the triumph, particularly after a period during which her form had drawn public scrutiny. 'I had tears in my eyes because it was very important for me to win. I was working really hard on myself and kept believing that I can do it. Even though a lot of people were like, What's happening? Is it done? or whatever, I believed in myself, and I would like to thank my family, coaches and the support staff, both sets of families, my parents and my in-laws, and of course my husband is always there even at my lowest. People around me have guided me really well; I'm really thankful,' Sindhu told reporters after the match.

PM Modi Congratulates Sindhu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to publicly celebrate the achievement, posting his congratulations on X. 'A historic feat for Indian badminton! Congratulations to PV Sindhu for emerging victorious in the Japan Open 2026. Her determination and exceptional skills were on full display throughout the tournament. The fact that she is the first Indian to win this title makes this achievement even more special. It will inspire countless young athletes across the country to play and shine,' Modi wrote.

Context and Significance

Sindhu's last BWF World Tour title had come at the Syed Modi International in December 2024, a considerably lower-tier event. The Japan Open triumph is categorically different — a Super 750 event ranks among the most prestigious on the global calendar, just below the Super 1000 tier. Notably, no Indian player had previously won the tournament in its history, making this a landmark moment for Indian badminton beyond Sindhu's individual career. This comes amid growing competition at the top of women's singles, with Yamaguchi — a four-time Japan Open champion — representing the benchmark of the division. Sindhu's straight-games win over her underlines that this was no fluke.

What's Next

The victory is expected to significantly boost Sindhu's BWF World Rankings and her qualification standing for upcoming marquee events. Indian badminton fans and officials will now watch whether she can sustain this form into the second half of the season, with the BWF World Championships and other Super 750 events on the horizon.