PV Sindhu Storms into Japan Open 2026 Final, Defeats Chen Yufei in Statement Victory
PV Sindhu reached the Japan Open 2026 final after defeating World No. 4 Chen Yufei, becoming the first Indian to reach the tournament final and her first Super 750 final.
PV Sindhu rolled back the years with one of her finest performances in recent memory, defeating World No. 4 and Olympic champion Chen Yufei of China to storm into the Japan Open 2026 final.
The Indian superstar produced a tactical masterclass to lead 21-19, 15-10 before Chen was forced to retire due to a hamstring injury in the second game, handing Sindhu one of the biggest victories of her comeback season. While the match ended prematurely, there was little doubt about who had been the better player.
Sindhu had controlled the semifinal with aggressive shot-making, relentless defence and exceptional tactical discipline, outplaying one of the world's most consistent players to book her place in the title clash. The victory is historic on multiple fronts.
Sindhu has become the first Indian player, male or female, to reach the Japan Open final, ending a long-standing barrier for Indian badminton at one of the sport's most prestigious tournaments.
The semifinal victory marks a significant milestone in Sindhu's career.
It is her first Japan Open final, First BWF Super 750 final, First Super 750 or Super 1000 final since the Indonesia Open 2019, First major BWF World Tour final outside India in more than two years & First final since winning the Syed Modi International in 2024
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The result also ends another personal milestone. It is Sindhu's first victory over Chen Yufei since 2019, snapping a difficult run against the Chinese Olympic champion, who had won each of their previous five meetings. For a player who began 2026 ranked world No. 18, the turnaround has been remarkable.
After climbing back into the world's top ten earlier this week, Sindhu now has the opportunity to rise even higher. Should she lift the title on Sunday, she is projected to move up to World No. 8.
Sindhu Survives First-Game Pressure
The opening game showcased everything that has made Sindhu one of India's greatest badminton players. After establishing a healthy advantage midway through the game, she faced immense pressure as Chen mounted one of her trademark comebacks. The Chinese star recovered from 11-16 and later 15-18 to level the contest and threaten to steal the opening game.
In previous seasons, those moments had often proved costly for Sindhu. This time, however, she refused to let the momentum shift.
Displaying tremendous composure, she attacked decisively during the closing exchanges to seal the first game 21-19, silencing one of the strongest competitors on the World Tour. Winning that opening game proved crucial.
It not only gave Sindhu the scoreboard advantage but also placed additional physical pressure on Chen, who had already been forced into several long rallies.
Sindhu's victory was built on a carefully executed tactical plan. Rather than allowing Chen to dictate the tempo through long baseline exchanges, the Indian consistently flattened the rallies. She attacked aggressively from the front court, cutting off Chen's trademark net shots before they could develop into extended rallies.
Her willingness to step inside the court and keep the shuttle low repeatedly disrupted the Chinese player's rhythm. Whenever Chen attempted to lift, Sindhu punished the shorter returns with powerful straight smashes aimed directly at the body.
The strategy prevented the Olympic champion from using her exceptional court coverage and defensive retrievals qualities that have defined her success over the years. Equally impressive was Sindhu's movement. Fresh after receiving a walkover in the quarter-finals, she looked physically sharper than at any stage in recent seasons.
Her lunging defence, recovery speed and ability to transition quickly from defence to attack consistently kept Chen under pressure. By the midway stage of the second game, Sindhu had opened up a commanding 15-10 lead, looking firmly on course for victory before Chen was forced to retire because of a hamstring injury.
The performance reminded fans of the Sindhu who dominated world badminton between 2016 and 2019. Her powerful smashes, fearless defence and ability to elevate her level in major matches were all on display. Perhaps most encouraging was her tactical maturity.
Instead of relying solely on power, Sindhu mixed her pace intelligently, varied the angles of attack and remained patient when rallies became physically demanding. Against one of badminton's finest defensive players, that balance proved decisive.
Sindhu now stands just one victory away from winning one of the biggest titles of her career. The Japan Open is among the most prestigious tournaments on the BWF World Tour calendar, and lifting the trophy would mark another landmark achievement in her already glittering career. More importantly, it would confirm that the former world champion has successfully completed one of the finest comebacks in recent Indian badminton history.
After injuries, inconsistent form and questions about whether she could return to the elite level, Sindhu has answered every doubt with her performances this season. Beginning the year ranked outside the world's top 15, she has steadily rebuilt her confidence through consistent results, reaching semifinals at Super 500, Super 750 and Super 1000 events before finally breaking through into a major final.
Now, history beckons once again.
One more match.
One more victory.
One more opportunity for PV Sindhu to remind the badminton world why she remains one of the sport's biggest champions.
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