Sindhu won the contest 21-19, 15-10 before Chen retired midway (Img: X)
New Delhi: India's PV Sindhu stormed into the Japan Open 2026 final after defeating China's Chen Yufei in the women's singles semifinal on Saturday. Sindhu won the contest 21-19, 15-10 before Chen retired midway through the second game due to a hamstring injury.
The victory was significant for the two-time Olympic medallist as she snapped a five-match losing streak against Chen Yufei. It also marked Sindhu's first-ever appearance in the Japan Open final and her return to a BWF World Tour title clash after a long gap.
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Sindhu looked in control from the start, using her attacking game and sharp court movement to put pressure on the Chinese shuttler. The opening game remained closely contested, but Sindhu held her nerve to win the final two points after the score was tied at 19-19.
The second game followed a similar pattern, with Sindhu racing to an early lead and maintaining control of the rallies. Chen began showing signs of discomfort before eventually struggling with a hamstring injury.
Unable to continue, the Chinese player retired while trailing 15-10, handing Sindhu a place in the final.
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Sindhu's run in the tournament has included an impressive win over world No. 5 Han Yue, while she also received a walkover in the quarterfinals.
The Indian star will now face either Japan's Akane Yamaguchi or Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani in Sunday's final as she looks to lift her maiden Japan Open title.
