Sindhu ends 15-year wait to reach Japan Open semi-finals for the first time after Nozomi Okuhara withdraws Badminton News

Sindhu reached the semi-finals of the Japan Open for the first time after former world champion Nozomi Okuhara withdrew due to injury ahead of the women’s singles quarter-finals at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Friday.The win propelled the Indian star into the last four of the BWF Super 750 Championship for the first time in his career. Sindhu also became the first Indian women’s singles player in 15 years to reach the semi-finals of the Japan Open, ending a wait that began when Saina Nehwal reached the semi-finals in 2011.

Sindhu’s impressive 2026 resurgence continues

The semi-final appearance was another milestone in Sindhu’s impressive comeback season. Ranked first in the world starting in 2026 The two-time Olympic medalist returned to the top 10 on February 18 with a series of solid performances on the BWF World Tour and is currently ranked ninth in the world. This is the third time Sindhu has reached the semi-finals this season. He has also reached the semi-finals in the Malaysia Open Super 1000 and Australian Open Super 500 before.Before benefiting from Nozomi Okuhara’s withdrawal, Sindhu showed excellent form in the round of 16, defeating the world’s fifth-ranked Chinese player Han Yue 21-16, 21-14 in just 35 minutes.Sindhu is now India’s only remaining contender in Tokyo as Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty and doubles pair Satwiselaji Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have withdrawn from the tournament.

The blockbuster semi-finals await

Sindhu will next face China’s Chen Yufei, ranked fourth in the world and Tokyo Olympic champion, in a high-profile semi-final showdown. Chen Yanxi defeated South Korean player Shen Youzhen 21-10, 21-12 and advanced to the semi-finals.The head-to-head record is in China’s favour, as she leads 8-6 and has won all five of their past meetings. Sindhu’s most recent victory over Chen came at the 2019 BWF World Championships, where she won her first world title.