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Paris Olympics champion An Se Young became the first woman to win two Asian Games singles titles, crushing Akane Yamaguchi 21-7, 21-9 to cap another dominant week in Nagoya.
An Se Young hits a return against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi during the women’s singles badminton final during the 2026 Asian Games (Picture credit: AFP)
Paris Olympics gold medallist shuttler An Se Young on Tuesday became the first woman shuttler to win two Asian Games singles titles, after she thrashed home favourite Akane Yamaguchi 21-7, 21-9 to add to her bronze medal from the women’s team event.
The reigning Olympic and world champion, undefeated since March, produced another dominant display in Nagoya to defend the Asian Games title she won in Hangzhou three years ago.
It was the 24-year-old’s eighth title of an incredible 2026.
Of the tournaments she didn’t win, An finished runner-up at the All England Open and withdrew injured from the Japan Open.
An won her second world title last month in New Delhi.
Roared on by pockets of vocal Korean fans in the arena, An made a slow start but fought back to take control of the opening game.
An sent Yamaguchi sprawling with a smash down the line before sealing the opening game with a backhand flick at the net.
An maintained her relentless assault in the second game, opening up a commanding lead as she closed in on another title.
It came when Yamaguchi sent a serve return long, prompting An to drop to her knees in celebration and let out a primal scream.
An had already defeated Yamaguchi this week in the women’s team event.
The world No. 1 has shown her fiery side at the Asian Games, apologising after her frustration boiled over during an earlier match.
An had a few stern words for her watching father as well, saying: “I am out there running myself into the ground and he is just cheering away in comfort.”
Among men’s shuttlers, China’s two-time Olympic gold medallist Lin Dan was the last to defend an Asian Games title, when he won in 2010 and 2014.
South Korea’s Lee So Hee and Baek Ha Na clinched women’s doubles gold after a marathon 26-28, 21-18, 21-18 win against China’s Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning.
The match was locked at 18-all in the deciding game when Liu went down with an ankle injury.
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Ask News18An Se Young became the first woman shuttler to win two Asian Games singles titles by defeating Akane Yamaguchi 21-7, 21-9 in Nagoya.
Ask News18September 29, 2026, 13:36 IST
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