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PV Sindhu has won against Nozomi Okuhara in a thrilling first-round match at the Indonesia Open, continuing their 13-year rivalry.
PV Sindhu and Nozomi Okuhara have been rivals for over a decade now (Picture credit: AFP)
Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu on Tuesday left a heartfelt message for her long-time rival, Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, after the two faced off in a first-round match at the Indonesia Open this morning, with the Indian star winning the match in a crucial decider.
The battle between Sindhu and Okuhara has lasted for 13 years now, with their first meeting coming in the final of the Asia U19 Championships in 2012, when the former won a proper humdinger.
Sindhu and Okuhara’s next big meeting came in the semifinals of the 2016 Rio Olympics, where the Indian won 2-0 to move into the finals and eventually bag a silver medal.
“14 years. 20 matches. From my longest to the shortest World Championship finals, always with her,” Sindhu tweeted on Tuesday morning.
14 years. 20 matches. From my longest to the shortest World Championship finals — always with her. We’ve shared wins, losses, and a rivalry only we understand ❤️😂 Keep fighting, Nozomi. The court’s never quite the same without you 💪❤️ pic.twitter.com/1Ql8ZA8JON— Pvsindhu (@Pvsindhu1) June 3, 2025
In the final of the World Championships in 2017, Okuhara beat Sindhu in a three-set thriller, the scoreline of which was very similar to their first meeting in 2012.
Sindhu avenged that defeat next year, in the quarterfinal of the World Championships, beating Okuhara in straight games.
Sindhu won the BWF World Tour Finals summit showdown that year against Okuhara as well, again in straight games.
Sindhu did an encore of 2018 in 2019, beating Okuhara again in the final of the World Championships, thrashing her 21-7, 21-7.
Okuhara avenged these losses in their R32 encounter of the 2023 World Championships, beating Sindhu in straight games. After Tuesday’s win, the head-to-head record between is at a slender 11-9 in the Indian’s favour.
Sindhu overcame Okuhara 22-20, 21-23, 21-15 in an absorbing one-hour and 19-minute clash in the women’s singles.
Sindhu and Okuhara engaged in a war of attrition in an error-marred match that had plenty of game points and match points.
Sindhu edged a tense first game 22-20, saving a game point and producing attacking shots at clutch moments.
In the second game, Sindhu held a slender two-point lead in the initial stages but trailed 7-11 at the mid-game interval.
Sindhu clawed her way back, earning two match points with a thunderous cross-court smash.
But unforced errors continued to creep in, permitting Okuhara to level at 20-all. She took the second game 23-21.
The decider followed a familiar pattern of conservative play, with neither of the two taking undue risks.
Sindhu led 11-9 at the break and then found her groove, unleashing a series of winners to surge to 20-12.
Sindhu earned eight match points and she sealed the victory over Okuhara by converting the fifth one to book her spot in the round of 16. She will either play Pornpawee Chochuwong or Chiu Pin-Chian next.
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