Indian shuttler PV Sindhu advanced to the Japan Open 2026 semifinals after her opponent, former world champion Nozomi Okuhara, withdrew from the quarterfinal clash.
This marks Sindhu’s third semifinal of the season and her first Super 750 semifinal since the 2023 Denmark Open.
The 31‑year‑old two‑time Olympic medallist, chasing her first title of the year, will now face Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei of China. Sindhu trails 6‑8 in their head‑to‑head record and has lost her last five encounters against Yufei. A victory would not only break that streak but also secure her first Super 750 final in nearly three years.
Earlier in the tournament, Sindhu defeated world No. 5 Han Yue of China in straight games, 21‑16, 21‑14, to reach the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, India’s challenge in other categories ended as the mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto, women’s singles player Unnati Hooda, and men’s doubles pairs Satwik‑Chirag and MR Arjun/Hariharan Amsakarunan bowed out early.
Chen Yufei, 28, has enjoyed a strong season, winning the Indonesia Masters and reaching multiple finals across Super 500 and Super 750 tournaments. The semifinal clash promises to be one of the highlights of the Japan Open.
