Seven years after becoming the world champion, PV Sindhu has once again reminded the badminton world why she remains one of India’s greatest shuttlers. Her Japan Open 2026 triumph was not just another title, rather it was a statement of resilience after battling injuries, inconsistent form and heartbreaking near misses over the last few seasons.
The two-time Olympic medallist defeated home favourite and three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in a straight game to end her long wait for a major overseas title. In the process, she shattered the Tokyo curse and claimed her first Super 750 crown, becoming the first Indian to win a BWF Super 500 or above individual title in 2026.
It was also her biggest individual achievement since lifting the World Championship crown in 2019.
A champion who trusted the process
For Sindhu, the biggest satisfaction was finally converting another final into a title.
“Very very happy, just out of words,” said Sindhu to BWF after the win. “It was 19 months since I won (Syed Modi International, Super 300), and this was very important for me, because coming to the final is one thing, but to win and stand on the podium getting that gold is a different thing altogether.
She further highlighted how emotional it was for her after all the struggles. “You never know what will happen. Even though I was leading, I was making mistakes. So it was important for me to stay calm and focus on each point. It was important for me to stay positive all the time. With the top players you can’t take it easy. It was important to maintain the same aggressiveness. I couldn’t control my emotions at the end. There were some long rallies, and I won some of those big rallies, and that was important.”
A victory built on patience and perseverance
Sindhu’s victory was built on patience, discipline and her tactical maturity. Against one of the toughest opponents on the circuit, she managed pressure, defended brilliantly and attacked only when the opportunity arrived.
Former India coach Vimal Kumar praised her Japan Open performance calling it a reward that was long overdue. “Well done PV Sindhu,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “This title was long overdue and is a richly deserved reward for your perseverance, resilience, and belief.”
He added: “A perfect confidence booster ahead of the BWF World Championships in Delhi next month. It’s wonderful to see Sindhu back in the world’s top 8, which should earn her a crucial seeding—a significant advantage at the biggest event of the year. It was always a matter of getting the tactics right, playing with patience and discipline, and cutting down on unforced errors. Today’s performance reflected exactly that.”
Gopichand sees the return of a winner
For national coach Pullela Gopichand, the significance of the victory is beyond just one tournament. He believes the confidence she gained from beating two of the world’s best players will be crucial ahead of the 2026 BWF World Championship in New Delhi.
Speaking to RevSportz, Gopichand said: “It’s a fantastic win and it’s great to see her play phenomenally well in both the semi-final and the final. And having beaten the two best players, I think she has kind of had many close matches and lost a few close ones. It’s great to see her back in winning ways and it’s really good that before the World Championships and the Asian Games, she has found this wonderful form.”
A father’s belief in years of hard work
Long before the Japan Open triumph, Sindhu’s father PV Ramana had spoken about the hard work she was putting in to be in good shape.
“I am proud because I have spent some time with her,” Ramana told RevSportz ahead of the tournament. “At the same time, she has committed herself to working hard. Wherever she has gone and whichever coaches she has worked with, right from childhood, she has learned something new from each one of them. That is how she has reached this level. I am very happy with the way she has improved herself. She has performed, represented the country and brought glory to India.”
He added: “She is really working hard, and I am watching her closely. That shows she is in good shape. I hope she continues like this and gives her best performance.”
The perfect launchpad for New Delhi
Beyond the title, the timing of this win is more crucial. In just 29 days Sindhu will head into the BWF World Championships in New Delhi with great confidence. She is the only Indian with a gold medal in World Championships and she is among the four women’s singles players to have won five medals at the tournament.
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The post ‘It’s great to see her back in winning ways,’ says Pullela Gopichand on PV Sindhu’s Japan Open Victory appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
