French men's singles player Christo Popov said his victory in the 2026 Japan Open would boost his confidence ahead of the 2026 Badminton World Championships at the Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi, India, from August 17-23.
Popov defeated Koki Watanabe 21-11, 21-19.
"This title means a lot. It confirms what I've been saying for the past few months and weeks," Popov told the BWF website on Monday.
Popov dominated the first game, while Watanabe increased the pressure in the second with long rallies. However, Popov was able to close out the match in two games.
"Koki is a very skilled player, and he made me work hard throughout the second game. We had some very long and difficult rallies," said Popov.
