PV Sindhu's China Open campaign ended in the second round with a 21-16, 20-22, 18-21 defeat to world No. 4 Chen Yufei. The loss came despite Sindhu's recent Japan Open triumph and a strong performance in the nearly 90-minute match.
PV Sindhu revealed a conversation with Virat Kohli helped her overcome a career-threatening toe ligament injury in 2025, inspiring her comeback. This culminated in her historic Japan Open women's singles title victory in July 2026, making her the first Indian shuttler to win the prestigious crown.
Indian badminton star PV Sindhu credited a conversation with Virat Kohli for her comeback after a serious toe ligament injury in September 2025. Following rehabilitation, Sindhu won the Japan Open women's singles title on July 19, 2026, becoming the first Indian shuttler to achieve this feat.
PV Sindhu, after becoming the first Indian to win the Japan Open, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his congratulatory message, expressing gratitude and recalling cherished memories of their past meetings and his unwavering support for Indian sport.
China's Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping, known as the “Phoenix combination,” secured their first Japan Open mixed doubles title by defeating Hong Kong's Jordan Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet 2-1 in the final at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated Tokyo is open to dialogue with Moscow, emphasizing communication during difficult times. However, he confirmed no specific plans for political-level contacts are currently in place. Motegi also clarified that a $14.6 million allocation to Ukraine under NATO's PUTL program is unrelated to bilateral relations.
Japan, shifting from its pacifist constitution, is now poised to export lethal weapons. This significant policy change, driven by regional security concerns, allows Tokyo to leverage its advanced defense technology. The move opens new avenues for its burgeoning defense industry, potentially transforming Japan into a major global arms supplier.
