Ruthless An makes history to retain Asian Games badminton crown

NAGOYA: South Korea's badminton world number one An Se-young secured history by becoming the first woman to win two Asian Games singles titles. She triumphed over Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-9 in Tuesday's final. The reigning Olympic and world champion, who has never lost a match since March, showcased her relentless performance in Nagoya to reclaim the Asian Games crown she claimed in 2023.

An, who is 24, has amassed an astonishing eight titles in 2026. She finished second at the All-England Open and withdrew from the Japan Open due to injury. Despite a sluggish start, An regained control of the first game, smashing Yamaguchi with a powerful smash and clinching it with a backhand flick. Her dominance continued into the second game, where she built a substantial lead that sealed her latest title.

An celebrated her victory by collapsing to her knees and letting out a primal scream. She had already defeated Yamaguchi in the women's team event this week. World number one An has been particularly aggressive at the Asian Games, apologizing after her frustration almost boiled over in a previous match. She also expressed her frustration towards her father, saying, "I am out there running myself into the ground and he is just cheering away in comfort."

Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na of South Korea won the women's double gold after overcoming China's Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning in a grueling 26-28, 21-18, 21-18 match. The game was tied at 18-all in the final set when Liu was forced to retire due to an ankle injury, allowing the Korean duo to secure their win. China's Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin claimed the mixed doubles title by defeating Indonesia's Amri Syahnawi and Nita Violina Marwah 21-19, 21-8.