In what could well be the last chapter of a rivalry that has become the stuff of badminton legend, India’s P.V. Sindhu edged out Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in a tense 79-minute battle at the Indonesia Open 2025, winning 22-20, 21-23, 21-15 to move into the Round of 16.
It wasn’t their greatest match in terms of shot quality or pace, but the emotional weight it carried was unmistakable. From the opening rallies to the final point — Sindhu converting her fourth match point after squandering three in Game 2 — it was a reminder of the decades-long grit and grace both players have brought to the court.
This latest match marked the 20th meeting between Sindhu and Okuhara, a rivalry that started 15.2 years ago at the Asia Junior Mixed Team Championships in 2010. Since then, it has grown into the longest rivalry in women’s singles history.
They’ve shared heartbreaks, especially the 2017 World Championships final in Glasgow — a match still widely regarded as one of the greatest women’s singles battles ever played. They’ve also shared triumphs, most notably Sindhu’s sweet revenge in the 2019 final at Basel, where she dismantled Okuhara 21-7, 21-7 in one of the most dominant performances ever seen on such a stage.
A Rivalry That Defined an Era
From 2016 to 2020, women’s badminton was in a golden phase, and Sindhu and Okuhara were at the heart of it. Alongside Carolina Marin and Tai Tzu Ying, they pushed each other to incredible heights, making every Super Series event a must-watch.
Sindhu vs Okuhara was never just about winning or losing. It was about endurance. Most of their matches stretched over an hour, testing mental and physical strength. Even when the quality dipped slightly, like in today’s match in Jakarta, the fight and intensity remained.
Today, both women are no longer in their prime. Injuries, shifting priorities, and rising stars have nudged them off the pedestal. But their mutual respect remains untarnished — after the final point, they shared a smile, a quiet nod to the countless battles they’ve fought and the legacy they’ve crafted together.
A Legacy Etched in Time
In terms of longevity, the Sindhu-Okuhara rivalry is unmatched:
- P.V. Sindhu vs Nozomi Okuhara — 15.2 years
- Carolina Marin vs P.V. Sindhu — 14.1 years
- Tai Tzu Ying vs Ratchanok Intanon — 13.8 years
- Akane Yamaguchi vs Nozomi Okuhara — 12.9 years
It speaks volumes about Sindhu’s staying power — she appears in the top two of the longest-standing rivalries in women’s singles badminton. But it also highlights how Nozomi Okuhara, despite her diminutive frame and chronic injuries, held her own among the very best for over a decade.
These aren’t just numbers. They’re testaments to careers built on discipline, sacrifice, and relentless ambition.
This match was crucial for Sindhu, not just sentimentally but strategically. A win over Okuhara helps her gather confidence as she seeks consistency in the 2025 season. The last two years have been tough, with a revolving door of coaches and a form slump that saw her ranking tumble.
Now, under the guidance of her long-time mentor returning to her corner and a leaner, sharper approach to the game, Sindhu seems intent on making a late-career push. The win over Okuhara — a familiar opponent who has always brought the best out of her — could be the spark she needed.
For Okuhara, today’s loss might not sting much. Injuries have haunted her for years, and she’s hinted in recent interviews that she may consider stepping away from the tour soon. If this was indeed her swansong match against Sindhu, it ended with the grace and mutual admiration that only time and history can cultivate.
More Than Just Sport
This was never just about two shuttlers trading points. For over a decade, Sindhu and Okuhara embodied everything sport is meant to be — fierce competition, mutual respect, heartbreaks, and comebacks. They reminded us that rivalries can be more than numbers — they can be stories, rich and evolving, full of drama and dignity.
As Sindhu moves on to face Thailand’s shuttler in the Round of 16, she carries with her not just the hopes of a nation but also the fading echoes of a rivalry that made her who she is.
And for those of us who watched them grow, fall, rise again — it’s the end of an era we’ll never forget.
“The court’s never quite the same without you,” Sindhu had said once.
We couldn’t agree more.
