India, July 18 -- For a player whose career is measured in Olympic metal and World Championship medals, the drought of finals had become an uncomfortable noise.

It had been over two years since her last World Tour final at the lower-tier Syed Modi International at Lucknow in December 2024, and nearly five years since she last entered a final above the Super 500 level. At the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, the 31-year-old didn't just dial back the clock, she smashed it to pieces.

The double Olympic medallist advanced to the final of the $950,000 Japan Open on Saturday. She will have a chance to end her title drought on Sunday after securing a final spot when China's Chen Yufei retired in the second game due to a hamstring injury.

Sindhu ...