New Delhi: An emotional PV Sindhu said her unwavering belief and relentless hard work finally paid off after lifting the Japan Open title, describing the victory as one of the most significant moments of her career. The two time Olympic medallist defeated home favourite and three time world champion Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in a commanding final to claim her biggest title since winning the World Championships in 2019.
Overcome with emotion after the victory, Sindhu admitted she had tears in her eyes as she reflected on the challenges she had faced during a difficult phase of her career.
“I kept believing that I could do it,” Sindhu said, adding that despite questions from many people about her form and future, she never lost confidence in herself. She credited her family, coaches and support staff for standing by her throughout the journey.
The triumph ended a title drought of nearly two years, with her previous championship victory coming at the Syed Modi International in December 2024. Sindhu said the timing of the win was ideal as she now shifts her focus to the World Championships, where she will aim to become the first women’s singles player to win six medals at the prestigious event.
Looking ahead, Sindhu said maintaining the same confidence, composure and intensity would be crucial in the weeks to come. She revealed that staying calm during crucial moments and reducing unforced errors were the biggest factors behind her success in Tokyo.
The Indian ace also said returning to her natural attacking style while moving freely around the court allowed her to dominate long rallies and control the pace of the final against Yamaguchi.
Sindhu thanked her coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, strength and conditioning coach Wayne Lombard, her support team, parents, husband Venkata Datta Sai and her in laws for their constant encouragement.
The Japan Open victory has provided Sindhu with a major confidence boost as she prepares for the World Championships next month, where she will once again aim to create history for Indian badminton.
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