P.V. Sindhu Advances to Japan Open 2026 Final After Opponent's Injury

P.V. Sindhu has advanced to the final of the Japan Open 2026 women's singles after her opponent, Chen Yufei, retired due to injury. Leading the match at 21-19, 15-10, Sindhu showcased her skill and determination throughout the game. This victory marks a significant moment in her comeback journey, as she has climbed from World No. 18 to World No. 9 this season. Sindhu is set to face either Akane Yamaguchi or Putri Kusuma Wardani in the final, aiming for the title. Her performance this season has included multiple semifinal appearances, highlighting her return to form.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 18, 2026, 13:07 IST

Sindhu Secures Spot in Final

File image of veteran badminton player P.V. Sindhu(Photo: @Pvsindhu1/X)

Tokyo, July 18: P.V. Sindhu has reached the final of the Japan Open 2026 women's singles after her opponent, China's world No. 4 Chen Yufei, had to retire due to injury during their semifinal match. This victory marks Sindhu's first final appearance of the season.

Sindhu was leading the match with scores of 21-19, 15-10 when Chen withdrew, reportedly due to a hamstring issue.

The Indian star started the match with great intensity, establishing a four-point lead in the first game through her aggressive style and swift movements. Although Chen managed to equalize at 19-19, Sindhu maintained her composure and clinched the first game 21-19.

The second game saw Sindhu continue her dominance, quickly taking a 15-10 lead. With the match clearly in her favor, Chen opted to retire, concluding the match prematurely.

This win is a significant milestone in Sindhu's remarkable comeback in 2026. At the beginning of the year, she was ranked World No. 18 but has impressively climbed to World No. 9, demonstrating her return to peak performance.

In the final, Sindhu will compete against either Japan's Akane Yamaguchi or Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani as she seeks to claim the Japan Open title.

Earlier in the tournament, Sindhu reached the semifinals of the Japan Open Super 750 after Japan's Nozomi Okuhara withdrew before their quarterfinal match on Friday. This marks Sindhu's first semifinal appearance in a Super 750 event since the Denmark Open in 2023. She has reached the semifinals in three tournaments this season, including the Malaysia Open Super 1000 and the Australian Open Super 500.