New delhi: South Korean badminton sensation An Se-young secured her second career world championship title, defeating Japan's Akane Yamaguchi in a gripping final in the Indian capital on Sunday. An, who holds the world No. 1 ranking, emerged victorious with a scoreline of 21-17, 21-14 at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships held at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
According to Yonhap News Agency, An previously won her first world title in 2023. The BWF did not hold the championships in 2024 due to the Olympic Games, where An triumphed with her first Olympic gold in Paris. Last year, An had to settle for a bronze medal after being ousted in the semifinals. However, this year, she reclaimed her crown without dropping a single game throughout her six matches, from the opening round to the final.
An's recent victory solidifies her position as the only South Korean singles player, male or female, to hold a world title. Her triumph over Yamaguchi extends her winning streak against the Japanese player to six consecutive matches, bringing their head-to-head record to 20 wins and 15 losses in An's favor. Yamaguchi, who was aiming for her fourth world title after wins in 2021, 2022, and 2025, fell short in her quest.
The final match saw An and Yamaguchi exchange leads in a tightly contested first game. An closed out the game 21-17, gaining momentum with a series of decisive plays. In the second game, An overcame an early deficit to establish a commanding lead, ultimately clinching the championship after a series of unforced errors by Yamaguchi.
This tournament marked An's return to competition following her withdrawal from the Japan Open last month due to a left foot injury. Despite not being entirely pain-free, An managed to perform at her best, as she had assured South Korean media before departing for India.
In another highlight for South Korea, Baek Hana and Lee So-hee claimed the women's doubles title, marking the country's first victory in the event in over 30 years. The duo defeated China's Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning 21-15, 21-15, becoming the second South Korean pair to win the world title in women's doubles since 1995. Meanwhile, in men's doubles, defending champions Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho were unable to retain their title, falling to Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the semifinals.