The 2026
Earlier in the day, the mixed doubles team of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue also made headlines by clinching the championship title, overcoming the top-seeded Chinese duo of Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in a thrilling match that ended 22-20, 19-21, 21-15. This victory marked a historic first for French badminton in the mixed doubles category, showcasing the depth of talent emerging from the country.
Dominance of An Se-young
In the women’s singles final, South Korea's An Se-young reaffirmed her status as the world’s top player by defeating defending champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan. The match, which was their 35th encounter, ended with Se-young winning 21-17, 21-14, extending her winning streak against Yamaguchi to six matches. The match was characterized by intense rallies and strategic play, with Se-young demonstrating remarkable resilience despite entering the tournament with concerns about her fitness.
The atmosphere in the arena was electric, with over 8,000 fans witnessing the high-paced action. The first game saw both players exchanging leads, but Se-young managed to pull ahead at crucial moments. In the second game, she capitalized on Yamaguchi's unforced errors to secure her victory, marking her ninth consecutive win without dropping a game.
Historic Wins in Doubles
The championships also featured notable performances in the women’s doubles, where the Korean pair of Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee triumphed over the top-seeded Chinese team of Sheng Shu Liu and Ning Tan with a score of 21-15, 21-15. This victory not only ended a five-match losing streak for the Koreans but also made them the second Korean women’s doubles champions in 31 years, following the legacy of Gil Young-ah and Jang Hye-ock in 1995.
In the men’s doubles, the Chinese duo of Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang secured their title by defeating Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-17, 21-16, ensuring that China continued its tradition of winning at least one title in every edition of the championships since 1983. The 2026 World Badminton Championships will be remembered for its thrilling matches and the emergence of new champions.
