Japan Open: Pusarla Breaks Title Drought
It has been four years since Pusarla V Sindhu won a title at the upper end of the HSBC BWF World Tour. Her last Super 500 title was over four years ago – the Singapore Open in May 2022. And while there were Super 300…
· DEV SUKUMAR
It has been four years since Pusarla V Sindhu won a title at the upper end of the HSBC BWF World Tour. Her last Super 500 title was over four years ago – the Singapore Open in May 2022. And while there were Super 300 titles and the Commonwealth Games gold in 2022, her last major title had come seven years ago, at BWF World Championships 2019.
The relief and joy at breaking this pattern was written all over her face as she revelled in the feeling of winning DAIHATSU Japan Open 2026; the Super 750 triumph marking a high point in her career, and putting her back in the conversation as a contender at the upcoming World Championships on home soil.
Facing home icon Akane Yamaguchi, the most successful winner here with four titles, Pusarla showed the willingness to trade with Yamaguchi on her own terms when needed. A 44-shot rally early in the second game was illustrative – the Indian chasing everything and wearing the Japanese down. There were some twists and turns the rest of the way, but Yamaguchi, having played two draining matches before the final, could not summon up the reserves as she typically does, and Pusarla was able to nail the match in straight games, 21-17 21-17.