PV Sindhu Beats China’s Chen Yufei To Reach Japan Open 2026 Final

Published 18 July 2026 · india

PV Sindhu Beats China’s Chen Yufei To Reach Japan Open 2026 Final Published By, Last Updated: July 18, 2026, 09:09 IST PV Sindhu reached the

PV Sindhu Beats China’s Chen Yufei To Reach Japan Open 2026 Final Published By, Last Updated: July 18, 2026, 09:09 IST PV Sindhu reached the Japan Open final, beating Chen Yufei after Yufei retired due to injury. Sindhu will face Akane Yamaguchi or Putri Kusuma Wardani. Rapid Read PV Sindhu (PTI Photo) PV Sindhu stormed into the Japan Open final, defeating China’s Chen Yufei and snapping a five-match losing streak against her long-time rival. It marks Sindhu’s first appearance in the summit clash of this tournament, ending a prolonged wait for a final on the BWF Tour. Sindhu secured a 21-19, 15-10 victory, with the match ending prematurely after Yufei was forced to retire in the second game due to a hamstring injury. The Indian star will now face either Akane Yamaguchi or Putri Kusuma Wardani in Sunday’s final. Coming into the semi-final well-rested after receiving a walkover in the quarterfinals, Sindhu looked sharp, energetic, and tactically precise.

She adopted an aggressive approach from the outset, dictating rallies and skillfully breaking through Yufei’s typically resilient defence with smart shot selection and smooth transitions. How the Match Unfolded Facing Yufei, Sindhu’s strategy seized control early to balance scoreboard pressure. Although the Chinese shuttler started strongly and took an early lead, Sindhu responded with a four-point surge to move ahead 10-5. She carried that momentum into the mid-game interval, where her coach urged her to stay on the offensive. The contest intensified after the restart, with both players engaging in long, tightly contested rallies. Sindhu’s cross-court drop shots proved especially effective, stretching Yufei and helping her extend her advantage. However, Yufei showcased her trademark resilience, clawing back to reduce the deficit to a single point. A gripping 51-shot rally highlighted the quality of the encounter, with Sindhu eventually edging the point. The tension peaked at 19-19, but Sindhu raised her intensity at the crucial moment—letting out a roar as she took the lead before closing out the opening game.

The second game followed a similar pattern, with Sindhu racing to an early advantage and maintaining control. She led 11-7 at the break and continued to dominate, while Yufei began to struggle physically. As the hamstring issue worsened, the Chinese player was ultimately forced to retire, handing Sindhu a well-earned victory. The win continues Sindhu’s impressive run in the tournament, which also included a notable victory over world No. 5 Han Yue. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered Will PV Sindhu win the Japan Open 2026 final? I cannot predict the outcome of future matches. PV Sindhu has reached the Japan Open 2026 final after defeating Chen Yufei. She will face either Akane Yamaguchi or Putri Kusuma Wardani in the final on Sunday. What is the significance of Sindhu's win over Chen Yufei? PV Sindhu reached the Japan Open final by defeating Chen Yufei, who retired due to injury.