India, July 20 -- In the last two years, PV Sindhu was written off, with few giving her much chance of returning to winning ways. But true champions often prove their critics wrong, and the 31-year-old did exactly that on Sunday by winning the Japan Open. Sindhu became the first Indian to lift the title after defeating Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17. For the first time in a long while, the conversation around her is centred on badminton rather than rehabilitation.

During those two years, Sindhu battled multiple injuries while enduring constant scrutiny. Every time the ace shuttler failed to win a BWF title, critics were quick to question her and dissect every move she made.

The Japan Open triumph is Sindhu's first title since the ...