Japan Open 2026 Highlights: PV Sindhu crowned champion; beats Akane Yamaguchi

Sindhu LEADS!

PV Sindhu can sense blood now. She has a four-point advantage at 11-7, heading into the mid-game interval.

Can the Indian wrap this up in straight games? Or will the home favourite with the loud partisan crowd fight back and force a decider?

Chants of "Let's go Akane" echo in that break!

Yamaguchi loses a challenge!

Yamaguchi's shot lands long and she asks for a review. She is proven wrong as Sindhu finally puts a halt to her four-point run. Sindhu up 9-7.

Four-straight points for Yamaguchi!

Sindhu now seems to have a lapse in concentration as she makes back-to-back errors. Four straight points for Yamaguchi as she fights back to cut the deficit down to just a single point at 7-8.

Yamaguchi's radar is off

Yamaguchi has been wayward in the second game. She is landing the shuttles out of bounds more than she would like.

Sindhu won't complain though as she now has a five-point advantage at 8-3.

Sindhu in control!

The rallies continue to get intense. A 44-shot rally, the longest of the match now and both players have their hands on their knees at the end of it.

Sindhu, however, has the control now as Yamaguchi seems to be running out of gas. The Indian leads 6-3.

Relentless attacks from Sindhu!

PV Sindhu is in no mood to let Yamaguchi settle. She wants to impose herself right from the get go as she goes on an all out attack in the second game. She leads 2-1.

Sindhu takes Game 1!

PV Sindhu stamps her authority. A slew of points in the closing stages and the double Olympic medallist from India wins the first game comfortably at 21-17. 

Sindhu is just a game away from winning her first Super 750 title!

Stellar from Yamaguchi!

A 38-shot long rally and Sindhu suddenly turns up the pace. A lift from Yamaguchi is fired back right into her face from Sindhu.

Yamaguchi is taken aback, but manages to put her racquet in between to save her face. The power in the shot forces her to tumble backwards down into the court. But her timing is inch perfect.

The shuttle hits the middle of the racquet and lands in the opposite side of the court. Sindhu can't reach the forecourt after that smash. Absolutely brilliant defence from Yamaguchi, who trails 16-17 now.

Sindhu looking good at the net

The net play is something Sindhu has struggled with in the recent past, but the hard yards in training seems to be finally paying off. She is jumping to the net rather seamlessly and the deft touches are looking gold.

She now leads 16-12!

Brilliant smash from Sindhu!

PV Sindhu pushes Yamaguchi on the defensive with some aggressive moves. The Japanese shuttler somehow manages to stay in the rally and lifts a shuttle.

Sindhu picks the bones out of it with the vintage jump smash and Yamaguchi had no chance. 13-12 lead for the Indian.