PV Sindhu added another remarkable chapter to her illustrious career on Sunday, becoming the first Indian and, at 31 years of age, the oldest woman to win a BWF Super 750 title after defeating World No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in the Japan Open final. According to ESPN, the historic victory marked a significant milestone not only for Sindhu but also for Indian badminton.
Take a moment to reflect on those numbers. The "first" Indian to lift a Super 750 title. At "31" years old. Winning her "first" Super 750 crown. It also came in her "30th" meeting against long-time rival Akane Yamaguchi, who had already defeated Sindhu twice earlier this year.
As ESPN highlighted, the triumph was also Sindhu's first title since the Syed Modi International, a Super 300 event in 2024, and more significantly, her first major BWF title since winning the World Championships in 2019.
Winning a Super 750 event in today's highly competitive women's singles circuit is a significant accomplishment for any player, but doing so in her thirties after enduring months—indeed years—of difficult results makes the achievement even more extraordinary.
While Sindhu benefited from two walkovers during an injury-hit tournament, ESPN noted that this does not diminish the scale of what she achieved.
A player can only compete against those standing across the net, and Sindhu did exactly that. She battled injuries, setbacks, and the emergence of a younger generation before seizing the opportunity with the determination that has long defined one of India's greatest sporting icons.
It takes an exceptional athlete to continue fighting against adversity, and Sindhu has done exactly that over recent months before finally lifting silverware once again in Tokyo—a city where she had previously created history by winning her second Olympic medal in 2021.
"I had tears in my eyes because it was very, very important for me to win," she said after win. "I was really working hard on myself and kept believing that I could do it.
Even though a lot of people were asking what was happening, I still believed in myself, my family, my coaches and my support staff."
According to ESPN, Sindhu's emotional reaction reflected just how much the victory meant after an extended period without major success.
At 31, after experiencing both extraordinary highs and recent struggles, Sindhu's willingness to continue pushing herself through the demanding international badminton circuit deserves immense admiration.
She had gone more than a year without winning a title, while her recovery from foot surgery four years ago continued to influence her performances. ESPN pointed out that prolonged periods without success can easily erode the confidence of even the most accomplished athletes, yet Sindhu consistently returned to competition.
Whether seeded or unseeded, facing increasingly difficult draws against younger opponents, she continued to compete. Although she frequently produced impressive performances, victories against players in their prime often remained elusive. Nevertheless, Sindhu kept returning, continued training, improved her movement, enhanced her fitness, and refused to stop believing.
The Japan Open final became the clearest demonstration of that persistence. According to ESPN, Sindhu recovered after trailing early in the opening game before drawing level at 17-17 and racing away to win it 21-17.
The victory carried extra significance considering she had lost to Yamaguchi in the Australian Open semifinals and Thailand Open quarterfinals only weeks earlier.
This time, however, Sindhu looked sharper, fresher, and more aggressive throughout the contest. She established an early lead in the second game and maintained control to complete the final in straight games, providing another indication of her steady improvement over recent months.
There were still occasional unforced errors and moments of questionable judgement—elements that have troubled her in several major matches—but she quickly regained composure and allowed her determination to guide her to victory.
Even the championship point, secured through a smart leave followed by a successful challenge, highlighted just how focused she remained throughout the match.
Throughout the season, Sindhu had shown gradual improvement, even if tournament results did not always reflect her progress.
ESPN noted that she has climbed from World No. 18 back into the world's Top 10, now sitting at No. 9—an impressive achievement in one of badminton's most competitive disciplines.
Her movement, shot quality, and court awareness have all improved noticeably compared with the previous two years. It may seem unusual to describe a two-time Olympic medallist and five-time World Championship medallist as rebuilding her game, but following the lengthy injury break in 2022, that was precisely the challenge she faced.
Throughout 2026, Sindhu has consistently competed at a much higher standard. Her movement has become quicker, her trademark attacking strokes have returned, and unlike the previous season—when she suffered defeats against a wide range of opponents—she has once again begun performing like a genuine top-10 player. Even so, according to ESPN, overcoming the very best players remained her biggest hurdle.
Her defeats this year have primarily come against World No. 1 An Se Young on two occasions, World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi, World No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi twice, and World No. 4 Chen Yu Fei, along with a few unexpected losses.
One particularly memorable contest came against World No. 1 An Se Young in the Singapore Open quarterfinals. Although Sindhu lost 21-17, 21-14, ESPN observed that the scoreline failed to capture just how competitive the match actually was. The South Korean, widely regarded as the world's best player, had to elevate her performance considerably to secure victory.
Recovering mentally from several close defeats against the world's strongest players required remarkable resilience. The Japan Open featured virtually every leading player in women's singles, and although injuries affected several contenders—including Chen Yu Fei during her semifinal against Sindhu, Nozomi Okuhara in the quarterfinal, and even An Se Young during her own campaign—Sindhu still produced outstanding badminton, including a notable victory over World No. 5 Han Yue in the second round.
While the walkovers undoubtedly provided some assistance, ESPN pointed out that staying healthy and physically prepared is itself part of succeeding on the demanding BWF Tour.
The timing of this victory could hardly have been better. With less than a month remaining before the BWF World Championships in New Delhi, Sindhu now heads into one of the most important tournaments of her season carrying renewed confidence and momentum.
The World Championships have always occupied a special place in Sindhu's career. She claimed her first medal there as a 17-year-old and has built one of the greatest World Championship records in badminton history.
According to ESPN, this historic Japan Open triumph could provide exactly the confidence boost she needs as she attempts to secure a record sixth World Championship medal, this time with the support of a home crowd in New Delhi.