NEW DELHI, AUG 23 (IANS): An Se Young reaffirmed her dominance in women’s badminton by clinching her second BWF World Championships crown in New Delhi on Sunday, defeating Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21 17, 21 14 in a high intensity final. The world No. 1 showcased composure and tactical precision, absorbing Yamaguchi’s aggressive rallies before seizing control at crucial junctures. Yamaguchi, ranked No. 2 and a three time world champion, threatened repeatedly but was undone by An’s consistency and ability to finish points under pressure.
The opening game was evenly contested, with Yamaguchi edging ahead 16 15 after trailing 12 15. However, An responded with four consecutive points, combining sharp winners with forced errors from her opponent to secure the first game. In the second, Yamaguchi began strongly, leading 4 2, but An quickly shifted momentum, moving ahead 7 6 and extending her cushion to 11 7. From there, she never relinquished control, building a decisive 16 11 lead. At 17 13, An produced one of the match’s highlights, winning a long rally with a delicate drop shot that left Yamaguchi sprawling. Three more points sealed the championship in straight games.
This triumph marks a remarkable return to the summit for An, who first won the world title in Copenhagen in 2023 and followed it with Olympic gold in Paris in 2024. She had settled for bronze at last year’s World Championships but reclaimed her crown in New Delhi without dropping a single game across six matches. The victory also extended her winning streak against Yamaguchi to six, improving her head to head record to 20 15. For Yamaguchi, the defeat ended her bid for an unprecedented fourth women’s singles title.
An’s success further cements her place in history as the only South Korean singles player, male or female, to have won a world title, underscoring her role as a trailblazer for her nation.
Gicquel Delrue pair, Alex Lanier emerge France’s first ever world champions
In other historic results, France celebrated its first ever badminton world champions. The mixed doubles pair of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue stunned China’s top ranked duo Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping 22 20, 19 21, 21 15 in a thrilling final lasting one hour and 18 minutes. Their tactical mastery, particularly at the net, neutralised Huang’s influence and secured the biggest title of their careers. Bronze medallists at last year’s edition, the French duo had shown strong form earlier this season, finishing runners up at the All England Championships and reaching semifinals at Indonesia and China Super 1000 tournaments.
Moments later, Alex Lanier added to France’s celebrations by capturing the men’s singles crown with a commanding 21 11, 21 11 victory over Japan’s Kodai Naraoka. His dominant performance capped a landmark day for French badminton, coming 17 years after Pi Hongyan won the country’s first World Championships medal, a bronze in 2009. With two titles secured in one weekend, France has firmly established itself on the global badminton stage.
