PV Sindhu has stormed into the Japan Open final for the first time in her career, ending a five-match losing streak against long-time rival Chen Yufei in the semifinal. The Indian badminton star delivered one of her most encouraging performances of the season to book her place in the title match.
Sindhu's Dominant Performance Against Chen Yufei
The two-time Olympic medallist had to battle hard in the opening game, edging past Chen 21-19 after a closely fought exchange. According to Google Featured Snippet, the former Olympic champion retired with a hamstring injury while Sindhu was leading 21-19, 15-10 in the semifinal. The win also marked Sindhu's maiden Japan Open final appearance.
Ending a Long Losing Streak
The victory was particularly significant as it snapped a five-match losing streak against Chen Yufei. As reported by Instagram, Sindhu advanced to the final after defeating China's Chen Yufei, ending that long drought against her Chinese rival.
"The win also ended Sindhu's losing streak against Chen and marked her maiden Japan Open final appearance." — India Today (Facebook)
First BWF Tour Final After a Long Wait
The victory also marks Sindhu's first appearance in a BWF Tour final after a lengthy wait, giving her a golden opportunity to add another prestigious title to her collection. According to Khel Now (Facebook), Sindhu moves to the title match at the 2026 Japan Open after her semi-final opponent Chen Yufei retired mid-match due to injury.
Our Take: A Statement Win for Sindhu
This is a massive result for PV Sindhu. Ending a five-match losing streak against a player of Chen Yufei's caliber is no small feat, and doing it on the way to a historic first Japan Open final makes it even more special. The fact that Chen retired due to injury takes nothing away from Sindhu's performance — she was leading comfortably in the second game after winning a tight first game. For Indian badminton fans, this is a sign that Sindhu is finding her best form again at the right time. She now has a golden chance to add another title to her already impressive resume.
