PV Sindhu Creates History : Indian badminton star PV Sindhu has once again made the nation proud by winning the Japan Open 2026, becoming the first Indian ever to win a BWF Super 750 title.
Written by Gurleen Kaur • Published on : 21 July 2026
IBN24 NEWS Network :The 31-year-old defeated Japan’s world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi in straight games 21-17, 21-17 in the final, proving that experience, hard work, and self-belief can still overcome the toughest challenges.
A Historic Victory for Indian Badminton
Sindhu’s triumph in Tokyo is one of the biggest achievements of her career. Not only is she the first Indian to lift a BWF Super 750 trophy, but she also became the oldest woman to win a Super 750 title. The victory came against one of the world’s strongest players, Akane Yamaguchi, who had defeated Sindhu twice earlier this season.
This win is more than just another trophy. It marks Sindhu’s return to the top after a difficult period filled with injuries, tough defeats, and questions about her future.
A Long Wait Finally Ends
The Japan Open title is Sindhu’s first championship since the Syed Modi International in 2024 and her first major BWF title since winning the World Championship in 2019.
For over two years, she struggled to find her best form. After recovering from a serious foot injury, she often reached the later rounds of tournaments but could not cross the final hurdle. Despite these setbacks, Sindhu never stopped believing in herself.
After lifting the trophy, an emotional Sindhu said she had tears in her eyes because the victory meant so much to her. She thanked her family, coaches, and support staff for standing by her during difficult times and said she always believed that hard work would eventually pay off.
A Champion’s Determination
Winning a Super 750 event at the age of 31 is a remarkable achievement in modern badminton, where many top players are much younger.
Throughout the season, Sindhu continued working on her fitness, speed, and movement. Even when she entered tournaments without a high seeding and faced difficult draws, she kept fighting. Her determination was clearly visible during the Japan Open, where she played with confidence and attacked from the very first round.
In the final, Sindhu recovered after a close start to the opening game before winning it 21-17. She then stayed in control during the second game and completed the victory in straight sets, showing great composure under pressure.
Signs of Improvement Throughout 2026
She has climbed back into the world’s top 10 rankings, moving from No. 18 to No. 9. Most of her defeats this year came against the very best players in the world, including World No. 1 An Se Young, World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi, World No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi, and World No. 4 Chen Yu Fei.
These close matches proved that Sindhu was not far away from returning to her best. The Japan Open title is the reward for months of hard work and consistent improvement.
Ready for the World Championships
The timing of this victory could not have been better. With the BWF World Championships just weeks away in New Delhi, Sindhu enters the tournament full of confidence.
The World Championships have always been special for her. She won her first medal there as a teenager and has gone on to become one of the most successful players in the event’s history. Now, she will aim to win a record sixth World Championship medal in front of Indian fans.
Winning the Japan Open gives her the perfect boost before one of the biggest tournaments of the year.
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