PV Sindhu Enters Japan Open Semifinals After Nozomi Okuhara Withdraws

PV Sindhu advanced to the semifinals of the Japan Open Super 750 after Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara withdrew ahead of their quarterfinal clash on Friday.

The two-time Olympic medallist reached her third semifinal of the season and her first at a Super 750 event since the 2023 Denmark Open. Sindhu, India’s lone remaining challenger in the tournament, will now face Tokyo Olympic champion and world No. 4 Chen Yufei of China. The Indian star trails 6-8 in their head-to-head record and has lost their last five meetings, making the semifinal a major opportunity to reverse the trend.

Sindhu is also chasing her maiden title of the season and her first Super 750 final in nearly three years.