Japan Open: Sindhu enters into her first Super 750 semifinal
Badminton player P.V. Sindhu has advanced to the semifinals of the Japan Open after her opponent, Nozomi Okuhara, withdrew from the match. Sindhu is set to face Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei in her quest for the title.
Why it matters
This marks a significant milestone for Sindhu, as it is her first Super 750 semifinal appearance in nearly three years, signaling a potential return to top-tier form.
Two-time Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu sailed into her first Super 750 semifinal in nearly three years after former world champion Nozomi Okuhara withdrew ahead of their women's singles quarterfinal match at the Japan Open here on Friday (July 17, 2026).
The 31-year-old Indian, the 2019 world champion, will feature in the last four of a Super 750 event for the first time since the Denmark Open in 2023. It is also her third semifinal appearance of the season, following impressive runs at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 and the Australian Open Super 500.
Ironically, Okuhara had herself benefited from a withdrawal in the pre-quarterfinals, progressing after South Korea's An Se-young pulled out with a left foot injury.
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