Canada Open: Clean Sweep by Japan

Breakthrough wins by Yudai Okimoto and Riko Gunji helped Japan sweep all five titles at the YONEX Canada Open 2026. Japan became the first team this year to achieve the sweep on the HSBC BWF World Tour.

For both Okimoto and Gunji, it was their first Super 300 (or above) crown. World No.29 Okimoto, who was in the semifinals of the YONEX US Open 2026 the previous week, got the better of compatriot Riki Takei 21-13 21-13.

Okimoto had earlier upset top seed Victor Lai in the semifinals, while Takei had edged Lee Zii Jia at the same stage.

“Even though it’s my third World Tour final after playing in many tournaments, I haven’t been able to win a World Tour title previously,” said Okimoto. “So I’m really happy to win it for the first time. However, I’m not satisfied with just this. I want to win more titles. The next tournament is the Japan Open. I want to take good care of myself and build for the next one.”

In women’s singles, world No.21 Gunji, who had upset favourite Michelle Li in the semifinals, beat recent US Open champion Line Christophersen 21-15 15-21 21-6.

“I have never won a Super 300 before, so I’m really happy,” said Gunji. “I want to use this confidence again at the Japan Open and do my best to surpass last year’s results.”

» New pair Hiroki Okamura/Kyohei Yamashita achieved their second success in two weeks as they followed up the US Open win with a title in Canada. The Japanese, who came together at the Swiss Open in March, have made three finals in five tournaments.

» World No.25 Hinata Suzuki/Nao Yamakita won their first title this year beating compatriots Kaho Osawa/Mai Tanabe 21-15 21-16. The Japanese pairs both upstaged home rivals, with Suzuki/Yamakita beating Francesca Corbett/Jennie Gai, while Osawa/Tanabe outplayed Lauren Lam/Allison Lee.

» Akira Koga/Natsu Saito, who came together this year, also won their first title this season, beating Chinese Taipei’s Liu Kuang Heng/Hsu Yin-Hui 21-17 17-21 21-17.