Fresh from creating history as the first Indian shuttler to win the prestigious Japan Open, double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu expressed gratitude and spiritual joy, dedicating her remarkable victory to Mahaprabhu Jagannath.
Sindhu clinched the Japan Open 2026 badminton title by defeating local favorite Akane Yamaguchi, ending a two-year wait for a BWF World Tour crown in an emotional triumph for the Indian athlete.
The timing of her title win coincided with Odisha’s revered Jagannath Rath Yatra, a connection that Sindhu described as “truly poetic.”
Following her victory, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated Sindhu on her historic win over Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, praising her flawless performance in the final and expressing hopes for her continued success.
In response to the congratulatory message from the former CM, Sindhu expressed her deep personal and spiritual ties to Odisha, mentioning her father-in-law’s admiration for Patnaik’s leadership and governance of the state.
Sindhu’s triumph at the Japan Open Super 750 marked a significant milestone in her career, breaking a four-year dry spell at the top tier of the BWF World Tour and positioning her as a strong contender for the upcoming BWF World Championships in New Delhi.
