An Se-young wins women's singles gold at BWF World Championships

South Korean badminton star An Se-young reclaimed her women's singles world title at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi, India. The world number one defeated Japan's Akane Yamaguchi in the final with a 2-0 score (21-17, 21-14) in 49 minutes.

An Se-young demonstrated dominant form throughout the tournament, winning every match from the round of 64 to the final without dropping a single game. Despite recent concerns regarding a left foot injury, she utilized her defensive strength and sharp half-smash attacks to secure the gold medal, her first world championship title in three years.

Akane Yamaguchi took home the silver medal. Following her return to Japan, Yamaguchi expressed a mix of satisfaction and regret, noting her desire to improve her ability to adapt during matches. She also highlighted her motivation to provide encouragement to the Kumamoto region, which suffered significant damage from an earthquake in July.