PV Sindhu Makes History, Becomes First Indian to Reach Japan Open Badminton Final After Chen Yufei Retires Injured
Indian badminton star PV Sindhu has made history, becoming the first Indian to reach the final of the DAIHATSU Japan Open 2026 in Tokyo on Saturday, July 18. The 31-year-old advanced after her opponent, China's Chen Yufei, 28, retired injured during their semi-final clash at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
India's badminton queen, PV Sindhu, has etched her name in history, becoming the first Indian shuttler to reach the final of the DAIHATSU Japan Open. The two-time Olympic medallist advanced to the women's singles title decider after her Chinese opponent, Chen Yufei, retired injured during their highly anticipated semi-final clash at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Saturday, July 18, 2026. India to Host BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi.
PV Sindhu Creates History
🚨 INTO THE FINALS
PV Sindhu defeats Chen Yufei at Japan Open to reach one step away from the title 💪🏽
🎥: BWFpic.twitter.com/OFEga4aZVO
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 18, 2026
The sudden end to the semi-final match, which saw the 28-year-old Chen Yufei, a formidable opponent, withdraw, propels the 31-year-old Sindhu into her first BWF World Tour Super 750 final of the season. This significant milestone ends a long wait for India at the Japan Open, a tournament where no Indian woman has reached the singles final before.
Road to the Final
Sindhu's journey to the final has showcased her renewed form and determination. She began her campaign with a dominant victory over Malaysia's Wong Ling Ching in the opening round. Her quarter-final berth was secured after home favourite and former world champion Nozomi Okuhara withdrew due to injury, handing Sindhu a walkover. Prior to that, Sindhu had delivered a commanding performance against world No. 5 Han Yue of China, defeating her 21-16, 21-14 in just 35 minutes in the round of 16.
Today's semi-final against Chen Yufei was expected to be a stern test for Sindhu. The head-to-head record between the two champions has historically favoured Chen Yufei, who led 8-6 in their career meetings, with Sindhu having lost their last five encounters. Her most recent victory against the Chinese shuttler was at the 2019 BWF World Championships, where she went on to clinch the gold medal. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty Create History with Singapore Open 2026 Men's Doubles Title.
Tournament Details and Where to Watch
The DAIHATSU Japan Open 2026 is a BWF World Tour Super 750 event with a substantial total prize purse of USD 950,000. The winner of the women's singles category will take home USD 66,500.
The final match is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Key Facts:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | DAIHATSU Japan Open 2026 |
| Category | BWF World Tour Super 750 |
| Venue | Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan |
| Semi-Final Date | Saturday, July 18, 2026 |
| Final Date | Sunday, July 19, 2026 |
| Final Start Time | 11:00 AM JST (02:00 AM UTC) |
| Total Prize Money | USD 950,000 |
Where to Watch:
| Region | Platform/Channel |
|---|---|
| Worldwide | BWF TV (YouTube Channel) (Live Streaming) |
| India | No television broadcaster announced |
Sindhu's advancement marks a significant moment for Indian badminton on the international stage, providing her with a golden opportunity to clinch her first BWF World Tour title of the 2026 season. All eyes will now be on the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium as she aims for glory in the final.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 18, 2026 10:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
