Japan Open Final Highlights: PV Sindhu Beats World Champion Akane Yamaguchi to Win Title

PV Sindhu found the finish she had been chasing for years, overpowering home favourite and reigning world champion Akane Yamaguchi in Tokyo. The Japan Open final delivered a statement victory: Sindhu was sharp in attack, composed under pressure and emotional when the final call confirmed a long-awaited title.

With her 21-17, 21-17 win, Sindhu became the first Indian shuttler to lift the prestigious Japan Open trophy—and gave herself a major confidence boost before the World Championships in New Delhi.

Japan Open final highlights: the match at a glance

Sindhu beat Yamaguchi in straight games despite the Japanese star having the home crowd behind her. The contest lasted 50 minutes, with Sindhu holding her nerve when Yamaguchi mounted a late push in the second game.

The final was their 30th meeting, and the respect between the two rivals was evident after the match. They spoke on court and shared a podium selfie, a warm moment after an intensely competitive final.

PV Sindhu’s attack set the tone

This was not a victory built on caution. Sindhu took initiative from the opening exchanges, moving well and using her attacking strengths to keep Yamaguchi under sustained pressure. Her aggression at the front of the court stood out, while her smashes repeatedly gave her control of rallies.

That approach mattered against an opponent known for fighting through long points. Sindhu did not simply wait for mistakes; she created opportunities and won important extended rallies. Just as crucially, she stayed switched on in the tense passages rather than allowing a lead to become a burden.

A second-game test of composure

Sindhu opened a useful advantage at 8-3 and later led 14-8 in the second game. A few errors, including mid-court smashes that went long, gave Yamaguchi an opening. Roared on by the Tokyo crowd, Yamaguchi cut the gap to 15-17.

That was the point at which Sindhu’s mental discipline showed. Her coach, Irwansyah, urged her to let go of the previous point and focus only on the next one. Sindhu responded by regaining control, reaching three match points at 20-17 and closing out the title.

A title that ended a seven-year major wait

The trophy carries weight far beyond one excellent final. It is Sindhu’s first major title in seven years, dating back to her World Championships triumph in 2019. She had won the Commonwealth Games in 2022, but injuries made the period that followed difficult.

She also won the Syed Modi title in December 2024, yet the Japan Open represents a different kind of breakthrough: a major tour success achieved by defeating elite opposition, including Chen Yufei and then Yamaguchi. For a player who had faced questions about whether her best days were behind her, the response in Tokyo was unmistakable.

“I had tears in my eyes because it was very, very important for me to win,” Sindhu said after the final.

She credited her coach, parents, support staff, husband and in-laws for standing by her through difficult results as well as victories. Irwansyah, who joined her team in early 2025, was invited onto the podium by Sindhu after the win.

Why this win matters before the World Championships

Sindhu’s Japan Open success is timely because the World Championships are scheduled for next month in New Delhi. More than the trophy itself, the performance supplied evidence that her core strengths—movement, attack and resilience—are clicking together again.

• Elite opposition: Sindhu beat Chen Yufei and world champion Yamaguchi during the tournament.
• Pressure management: She protected a vulnerable second-game lead instead of allowing momentum to swing away.
• Attack with control: Sindhu identified reducing unforced errors as essential to making her attacking game more effective.
• Renewed belief: The victory arrived after a long stretch in which she continued to believe she could return to the top.

There is no guarantee that one title solves every challenge ahead, but Tokyo showed a version of Sindhu capable of matching the sport’s very best. Her own message was simple: maintain the tempo, calmness and confidence that carried her through this final.

Key Takeaways

• PV Sindhu beat Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in the Japan Open final.
• The win made Sindhu the first Indian Japan Open champion.
• It was her first major title in seven years, since the 2019 World Championships.
• Sindhu held off Yamaguchi’s late second-game fightback after leading 14-8.
• The result provides a major lift before the World Championships in New Delhi.

What comes next for Sindhu

Sindhu will now turn her attention to the World Championships with a title, momentum and a reminder of what her best badminton can look like. The Japan Open win did not come from nostalgia; it came from a clear tactical identity, brave attacking and the calm to finish when the match tightened.