By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu announced her return to the summit of world badminton with a commanding straight-game victory over longstanding rival Akane Yamaguchi to clinch the Japan Open Super 750 title on Sunday, ending a long wait for a major international crown and providing a massive confidence boost ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Indian star produced one of her finest performances in recent years to outclass the home favourite 21-17, 21-17 in the final, becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Japan Open women’s singles title. It was also Sindhu’s maiden Super 750 crown, a significant milestone in a career already adorned with two Olympic medals, a World Championship gold and multiple international titles.
The triumph marked an emotional comeback for the 31-year-old, who had endured an inconsistent run over the past few seasons due to injuries and fluctuating form. Having last won the World Championships title in 2019 at Basel, questions had begun to surface over whether the former world champion could once again challenge the sport’s elite. Sindhu answered those doubts emphatically in Tokyo though her straight sets win.
Throughout the week, she looked sharp and composed, defeating a series of top-ranked opponents before overcoming Yamaguchi, one of the most consistent players on the circuit, in front of a partisan Japanese crowd. The victory also reversed her recent struggles against the three-time world champion.
The title could not have come at a better time for Indian badminton. With just two years remaining for the Los Angeles Olympics, Sindhu has signalled that she remains a genuine medal contender despite the emergence of a younger generation. Her renewed fitness, aggressive approach and hunger for success suggest that the champion who inspired millions with Olympic silver in Rio and bronze in Tokyo is far from finished.
For Indian fans, Tokyo may well prove to be the beginning of Sindhu’s long-awaited second act on the world stage. Significantly, Sindhu had defeated the world top ranking players like Y F Chen and N Okuhara on her way to the Japan Open final.