PV Sindhu clinched the Japan Open 21‑18, 21‑17 over China’s Chen Yufei, turning the tables after her Asian Games quarter‑final loss.
The victory was a masterclass – a 21‑18 first‑game edge, then a 21‑17 finish that left Chen rattled. Sindhu’s unbroken service and precise smashes were the turning point, as she rattled the front‑court defenders and kept the pressure high.
India’s shuttle squad returns from the Aichi‑Nagoya Asian Games with a single medal and four quarter‑finals – a sharp drop from the 2022 haul. The disappointment makes the Arctic Open a clean‑sheet, and the 31‑year‑old former world champion is looking to rebuild her confidence before the Super 500.
Her next match? A rematch with Chen Yufei in the opening round. If she can replicate the Japan Open form, Delhi could finally turn the tide and bring a gold back to the home soil. The Arctic Open will be the first real test of India’s shaken confidence and the next chapter in Sindhu’s comeback story.