There are players who win because they are gifted. There are players who win because they are physically superior. And then there are those who learn to win because losing, at some point, becomes unacceptable. An Se-young belongs to the third category. On Sunday, inside a packed Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, the South Korean did something that has increasingly become familiar in women's badminton: she found a way to win.&nbsp;Akane Yamaguchi stood across the net, one of the few players who understands better than most what it takes to survive against An. But even the Japanese former world no. 1 could not stop her. An won 21-17, 21-14 to clinch her second BWF World Championships title. The victory came three years after her first world crown and two years after she became Olympic champion in Paris. By then, the numbers were extraordinary. But numbers alone do not explain An Se-young.&nbsp;To understand the player who now owns the Olympic, World Championships, Asian Games and Asian Championships titles, one has to go back to the beginning, before the trophies, before the world no. 1 ranking and before she became the face of South Korean badminton. Because An Se-young was not simply born a champion. She was built.<h2>The girl who arrived early</h2>An's story began in Gwangju, South Korea, where badminton entered her life at a young age. She followed her father's passion for the sport and quickly discovered that what started as an introduction could become an obsession. The progression was remarkably fast. At just 13, she was already competing internationally. By 2015 and 2016, she was collecting junior titles and establishing herself as one of Korea's most exciting young prospects.&nbsp;Then came 2017. At 15, An became the first middle-school student to make South Korea's senior national badminton team. That achievement alone tells a story. Most teenagers at that age are still trying to understand their own game. An was being thrown into an environment filled with established international players. She did not immediately dominate. And that was important. The early years exposed her to a level of badminton where talent was not enough. She had to learn how to deal with stronger opponents, longer rallies, pressure situations and the psychological demands of competing against players who had spent years at the top. Her first senior international title eventually came at the 2018 Irish Open. A year later, everything accelerated.<h2>2019: The world started noticing</h2>The New Zealand Open became the first major sign that An was ready for something bigger. She defeated China's Li Xuerui, the 2012 Olympic champion, in the final. It was not simply another trophy. It was a statement. An went on to win the Canada Open, Akita Masters, French Open and Korea Masters in 2019. Her ranking surged into the world's top 10 and the BWF named her the Most Promising Player of the Year. Suddenly, the teenager from Gwangju was no longer a prospect. She was a threat.&nbsp;But elite sport rarely follows a straight line. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her momentum. Then came the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. An arrived in Tokyo as one of the rising names in women's badminton. But her Olympic debut ended in the quarterfinals, where she lost to China's Chen Yufei. For a young player with enormous expectations, it could have become a psychological setback. Instead, it became another layer in the making of An Se-young.&nbsp;She learned. She adjusted. And she kept moving. Later that year, she reached her first Super 1000 final at the Denmark Open and then produced one of the most impressive stretches of her young career at the Indonesia badminton festival in Bali. She won the Indonesia Masters. Then the Indonesia Open. Then the BWF World Tour Finals. Three tournaments. Three titles. The message was becoming impossible to ignore. An Se-young was coming.<h2>The knee that changed everything</h2>In October 2023, during the Asian Games final against Chen Yufei, An suffered a serious injury to her right knee. She still won. She effectively finished the match while compromised physically, producing one of the defining acts of resilience in her career.But the victory came at a cost. The injury threatened everything that was supposed to come next. Paris was less than a year away. The Olympics had always been one of the ultimate targets. Now, suddenly, the question was not whether An could win Olympic gold.&nbsp;It was whether she would even be able to arrive in Paris at full strength. The months that followed were filled with uncertainty. She returned to competition but was not always the same player. There were lingering problems with her knee, questions over her fitness and legitimate doubts about whether the world's best women's singles player could reach the biggest stage at her best.An, however, kept going. That became the recurring theme of her career. Keep going.<h2>Paris: The reward for everything before it</h2>On August 5, 2024, at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena, An Se-young stood one match away from Olympic immortality. Across the net was China's He Bingjiao. The match itself lasted less than an hour. The journey to it had lasted years. An won 21-13, 21-16.Olympic gold. For South Korea, it was the country's first women's singles badminton gold since Bang Soo-hyun won at the 1996 Atlanta Games. For An, it was something even more personal.&nbsp;She had become Olympic champion after spending months wondering whether her injured knee would allow her to compete at all. The celebration, however, was followed by an unexpected moment of honesty. An criticised the handling of her injury by the national team setup, saying the problem had initially been underestimated and that she had been forced to play through pain.&nbsp;Her comments triggered a wider conversation about South Korea's badminton system and the treatment of its athletes. It was another revealing chapter in the making of An Se-young. She was no longer simply a young athlete expected to follow the system. She had become a champion willing to challenge it. And that required another kind of courage.<h2>The champion who kept evolving</h2>The years after Paris did not make An invincible. They made her more complete. There were injuries. There were losses. There were moments when opponents found ways to push her. But the defining characteristic remained the same: An adapted.That is perhaps the most important part of her story. Her game is not built around one spectacular weapon. It is built around layers. Movement. Stamina. Defence. Shot quality. Patience. Court coverage. Mental resilience. And, increasingly, the ability to understand exactly when to accelerate.&nbsp;By 2026, An had become the player everyone else was studying. Yet even she arrived at the World Championships in New Delhi with another physical question hanging over her. A left-foot injury had forced her to withdraw from the Japan Open in July. She admitted that pain remained but insisted she was ready to chase another world title. She was not bluffing.<h2>New Delhi: another chapter</h2>The World Championships offered another test. An had to navigate the pressure of being the defending champion and the world's no. 1 player while carrying the expectations that come with being the favourite. In the quarterfinals, she defeated China's Han Yue 21-19, 21-12. Then came Wang Zhi Yi in the semifinals. And finally, Yamaguchi.&nbsp;It was an appropriate opponent for the final chapter of this particular stage of An's career. Yamaguchi had been one of the defining rivals of her rise. Their battles represented two different approaches to the same sport, speed, precision and relentless movement against an opponent whose ability to absorb pressure had become almost legendary. This time, An was better.21-17. 21-14. World champion again. Her second world title. And another piece of history.&nbsp;With the victory, An now owns the four biggest individual titles available in women's badminton: the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games and Asian Championships. But perhaps the more remarkable achievement is what those titles represent. They are not four isolated victories. They are four stages of the same transformation.<h2>The unfinished story</h2>At 24, An Se-young has already achieved what many badminton players spend their entire careers chasing. Olympic champion. Two-time world champion. Asian Games champion. Asian champion. World no. 1. Yet the most interesting part of her career may still be ahead. Because An is no longer chasing recognition. She is chasing longevity. She is chasing consistency. She is chasing the version of herself that can remain at the top even after opponents have spent years trying to decode her game.

An Se-young’s rise from teenage badminton prodigy to Olympic champion and two-time world champion is a story of resilience, setbacks and relentless evolution

There are players who win because they are gifted. There are players who win because they are physically superior. And then there are those who learn to win because losing, at some point, becomes unacceptable. An Se-young belongs to the third category. On Sunday, inside a packed Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, the South Korean did something that has increasingly become familiar in women's badminton: she found a way to win. Akane Yamaguchi stood across the net, one of the few players who understands better than most what it takes to survive against An. But even the Japanese former world no. 1 could not stop her. An won 21-17, 21-14 to clinch her second BWF World Championships title. The victory came three years after her first world crown and two years after she became Olympic champion in Paris. By then, the numbers were extraordinary. But numbers alone do not explain An Se-young. To understand the player who now owns the Olympic, World Championships, Asian Games and Asian Championships titles, one has to go back to the beginning, before the trophies, before the world no. 1 ranking and before she became the face of South Korean badminton. Because An Se-young was not simply born a champion. She was built. The girl who arrived early An's story began in Gwangju, South Korea, where badminton entered her life at a young age. She followed her father's passion for the sport and quickly discovered that what started as an introduction could become an obsession. The progression was remarkably fast. At just 13, she was already competing internationally. By 2015 and 2016, she was collecting junior titles and establishing herself as one of Korea's most exciting young prospects. Then came 2017. At 15, An became the first middle-school student to make South Korea's senior national badminton team. That achievement alone tells a story. Most teenagers at that age are still trying to understand their own game. An was being thrown into an environment filled with established international players. She did not immediately dominate. And that was important. The early years exposed her to a level of badminton where talent was not enough. She had to learn how to deal with stronger opponents, longer rallies, pressure situations and the psychological demands of competing against players who had spent years at the top. Her first senior international title eventually came at the 2018 Irish Open. A year later, everything accelerated. 2019: The world started noticing The New Zealand Open became the first major sign that An was ready for something bigger. She defeated China's Li Xuerui, the 2012 Olympic champion, in the final. It was not simply another trophy. It was a statement. An went on to win the Canada Open, Akita Masters, French Open and Korea Masters in 2019. Her ranking surged into the world's top 10 and the BWF named her the Most Promising Player of the Year. Suddenly, the teenager from Gwangju was no longer a prospect. She was a threat. But elite sport rarely follows a straight line. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her momentum. Then came the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. An arrived in Tokyo as one of the rising names in women's badminton. But her Olympic debut ended in the quarterfinals, where she lost to China's Chen Yufei. For a young player with enormous expectations, it could have become a psychological setback. Instead, it became another layer in the making of An Se-young. She learned. She adjusted. And she kept moving. Later that year, she reached her first Super 1000 final at the Denmark Open and then produced one of the most impressive stretches of her young career at the Indonesia badminton festival in Bali. She won the Indonesia Masters. Then the Indonesia Open. Then the BWF World Tour Finals. Three tournaments. Three titles. The message was becoming impossible to ignore. An Se-young was coming. The knee that changed everything In October 2023, during the Asian Games final against Chen Yufei, An suffered a serious injury to her right knee. She still won. She effectively finished the match while compromised physically, producing one of the defining acts of resilience in her career. But the victory came at a cost. The injury threatened everything that was supposed to come next. Paris was less than a year away. The Olympics had always been one of the ultimate targets. Now, suddenly, the question was not whether An could win Olympic gold. It was whether she would even be able to arrive in Paris at full strength. The months that followed were filled with uncertainty. She returned to competition but was not always the same player. There were lingering problems with her knee, questions over her fitness and legitimate doubts about whether the world's best women's singles player could reach the biggest stage at her best. An, however, kept going. That became the recurring theme of her career. Keep going. Paris: The reward for everything before it On August 5, 2024, at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena, An Se-young stood one match away from Olympic immortality. Across the net was China's He Bingjiao. The match itself lasted less than an hour. The journey to it had lasted years. An won 21-13, 21-16. Olympic gold. For South Korea, it was the country's first women's singles badminton gold since Bang Soo-hyun won at the 1996 Atlanta Games. For An, it was something even more personal. She had become Olympic champion after spending months wondering whether her injured knee would allow her to compete at all. The celebration, however, was followed by an unexpected moment of honesty. An criticised the handling of her injury by the national team setup, saying the problem had initially been underestimated and that she had been forced to play through pain. Her comments triggered a wider conversation about South Korea's badminton system and the treatment of its athletes. It was another revealing chapter in the making of An Se-young. She was no longer simply a young athlete expected to follow the system. She had become a champion willing to challenge it. And that required another kind of courage. The champion who kept evolving The years after Paris did not make An invincible. They made her more complete. There were injuries. There were losses. There were moments when opponents found ways to push her. But the defining characteristic remained the same: An adapted. That is perhaps the most important part of her story. Her game is not built around one spectacular weapon. It is built around layers. Movement. Stamina. Defence. Shot quality. Patience. Court coverage. Mental resilience. And, increasingly, the ability to understand exactly when to accelerate. By 2026, An had become the player everyone else was studying. Yet even she arrived at the World Championships in New Delhi with another physical question hanging over her. A left-foot injury had forced her to withdraw from the Japan Open in July. She admitted that pain remained but insisted she was ready to chase another world title. She was not bluffing. New Delhi: another chapter The World Championships offered another test. An had to navigate the pressure of being the defending champion and the world's no. 1 player while carrying the expectations that come with being the favourite. In the quarterfinals, she defeated China's Han Yue 21-19, 21-12. Then came Wang Zhi Yi in the semifinals. And finally, Yamaguchi. It was an appropriate opponent for the final chapter of this particular stage of An's career. Yamaguchi had been one of the defining rivals of her rise. Their battles represented two different approaches to the same sport, speed, precision and relentless movement against an opponent whose ability to absorb pressure had become almost legendary. This time, An was better. 21-17. 21-14. World champion again. Her second world title. And another piece of history. With the victory, An now owns the four biggest individual titles available in women's badminton: the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games and Asian Championships. But perhaps the more remarkable achievement is what those titles represent. They are not four isolated victories. They are four stages of the same transformation. The unfinished story At 24, An Se-young has already achieved what many badminton players spend their entire careers chasing. Olympic champion. Two-time world champion. Asian Games champion. Asian champion. World no. 1. Yet the most interesting part of her career may still be ahead. Because An is no longer chasing recognition. She is chasing longevity. She is chasing consistency. She is chasing the version of herself that can remain at the top even after opponents have spent years trying to decode her game.

An Se-young’s journey from teenage prodigy to Olympic and two-time world champion is a story of resilience, evolution, setbacks and greatness

Why An Se-Young is so good: The making of badminton’s relentless champion

The dignity of the world's strongest was on full display as 'Badminton Empress' An Se-young made a triumphant return from injury, clinching the 2026 BWF World Championships without dropping a single game. World no. 1 An Se-young defeated world no. 2 and defending champion Yamaguchi Akane of Japan in the women's singles final at Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi. She completed the 49-minute match with a commanding 2-0 victory, winning 21-17, 21-14.&nbsp;The victory saw An Se-young return to the top of the World Championships podium three years after becoming the first Korean woman to win a women's singles world title at the 2023 Copenhagen championships. She went unbeaten in games from the round of 64 through the final to claim the second world championship gold medal of her career. An Se-young had already enjoyed a remarkable 2026 campaign. She won the Malaysia Open and Indonesia Open, both Super 1000 events, as well as the India Open and Singapore Open, both Super 750 tournaments. She then added the Asian Championships title in April, completing a career Grand Slam that includes the Asian Games, World Championships, Olympics and Asian Championships.&nbsp;Her momentum was briefly interrupted by a left-foot injury. She withdrew from the Japan Open and did not compete at the China Open. Returning after approximately a month away, however, she immediately showed that her competitive edge remained intact.On her comeback at the World Championships, An Se-young defeated China's Han Wei and Wang Zi Yi in successive rounds before overcoming Yamaguchi in the final, reaffirming her position at the top of women's badminton.&nbsp;The latest victory also strengthened An Se-young's dominance over Yamaguchi. Her head-to-head record against the Japanese star now stands at 20 wins and 15 losses. She has won their last six meetings, establishing herself as a particularly difficult opponent for the defending champion. The opening game developed into a fierce contest. An Se-young held an 11-8 advantage at the interval, but Yamaguchi continued to apply pressure and eventually moved ahead 16-15.&nbsp;An Se-young responded at precisely the right moment. Trailing 16-17, she produced five consecutive points through sharp half smashes and incisive attacking play, taking the first game 21-17. Yamaguchi started the second game strongly, taking the first three points. An Se-young quickly adjusted, using precise net play and her trademark defense to regain control. She moved ahead 7-6 and reached the interval with an 11-7 lead.&nbsp;Yamaguchi fought back to make it 11-10, but An Se-young remained composed through a series of demanding rallies. She stretched her advantage to 18-13, forcing Yamaguchi to expend more energy and gradually taking control of the match. An Se-young closed out the second game 21-14 to complete a straight-games victory. She celebrated the title by throwing her racket into the air in triumph.&nbsp;The perfect comeback marks another major milestone in An Se-young's already historic season. After completing her September schedule at the China Masters, a Super 750 event, she is expected to turn her attention to the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which begin on September 19. An Se-young will aim to defend her women's singles and team titles at the Asian Games and continue what has become one of the most dominant seasons in modern women's badminton.

An Se-young defeated Yamaguchi Akane 2-0 to win the 2026 BWF World Championships, reclaiming the women's singles crown in a perfect comeback

The dignity of the world's strongest was on full display as 'Badminton Empress' An Se-young made a triumphant return from injury, clinching the 2026 BWF World Championships without dropping a single game. World no. 1 An Se-young defeated world no. 2 and defending champion Yamaguchi Akane of Japan in the women's singles final at Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi. She completed the 49-minute match with a commanding 2-0 victory, winning 21-17, 21-14. The victory saw An Se-young return to the top of the World Championships podium three years after becoming the first Korean woman to win a women's singles world title at the 2023 Copenhagen championships. She went unbeaten in games from the round of 64 through the final to claim the second world championship gold medal of her career. An Se-young had already enjoyed a remarkable 2026 campaign. She won the Malaysia Open and Indonesia Open, both Super 1000 events, as well as the India Open and Singapore Open, both Super 750 tournaments. She then added the Asian Championships title in April, completing a career Grand Slam that includes the Asian Games, World Championships, Olympics and Asian Championships. Her momentum was briefly interrupted by a left-foot injury. She withdrew from the Japan Open and did not compete at the China Open. Returning after approximately a month away, however, she immediately showed that her competitive edge remained intact. On her comeback at the World Championships, An Se-young defeated China's Han Wei and Wang Zi Yi in successive rounds before overcoming Yamaguchi in the final, reaffirming her position at the top of women's badminton. The latest victory also strengthened An Se-young's dominance over Yamaguchi. Her head-to-head record against the Japanese star now stands at 20 wins and 15 losses. She has won their last six meetings, establishing herself as a particularly difficult opponent for the defending champion. The opening game developed into a fierce contest. An Se-young held an 11-8 advantage at the interval, but Yamaguchi continued to apply pressure and eventually moved ahead 16-15. An Se-young responded at precisely the right moment. Trailing 16-17, she produced five consecutive points through sharp half smashes and incisive attacking play, taking the first game 21-17. Yamaguchi started the second game strongly, taking the first three points. An Se-young quickly adjusted, using precise net play and her trademark defense to regain control. She moved ahead 7-6 and reached the interval with an 11-7 lead. Yamaguchi fought back to make it 11-10, but An Se-young remained composed through a series of demanding rallies. She stretched her advantage to 18-13, forcing Yamaguchi to expend more energy and gradually taking control of the match. An Se-young closed out the second game 21-14 to complete a straight-games victory. She celebrated the title by throwing her racket into the air in triumph. The perfect comeback marks another major milestone in An Se-young's already historic season. After completing her September schedule at the China Masters, a Super 750 event, she is expected to turn her attention to the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which begin on September 19. An Se-young will aim to defend her women's singles and team titles at the Asian Games and continue what has become one of the most dominant seasons in modern women's badminton.

An Se-young reclaimed the 2026 World Championship title, defeating Yamaguchi 2-0 without dropping a game after returning from a foot injury

Crowd favourite An Se-Young clinches her second title at BWF World Championships

Defending champion Akane Yamaguchi moved one step closer to a fourth badminton world championship title after defeating Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong in straight games on Saturday at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. The Japanese star won 21-12, 21-17, producing a dominant display in the opening game before being pushed harder in the second.&nbsp;&nbsp;Yamaguchi’s composure and experience ultimately proved decisive as she secured her place in the world championship final for the fourth time. Chochuwong had advanced to the semifinals after receiving a walkover in the quarterfinal when Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara withdrew with a knee injury. “I don’t look back at the previous wins that much, but yeah, it is amazing that I am here today and looking forward to enjoy the final," said Yamaguchi.&nbsp;Yamaguchi will now face top-ranked An Se-young in a blockbuster women’s singles final. The reigning Olympic champion and top seed overcame China’s world no. 3 Wang Zhi Yi 24-22, 21-16 in a 61-minute semifinal. An was forced to fight hard against a determined Wang, particularly in a tense opening game. Both players appeared to tire in the humid Delhi conditions during the second game, but An’s resilience helped her pull away and keep her bid for a second world championship gold medal alive.&nbsp;An Se-young admitted fatigue played a major role in her hard-fought semifinal victory over Wang Zhi Yi, saying the long rallies left both players exhausted. “I was only concentrating on recovering faster while breathing.” The world no. 1 said she focused on staying safe and composed during the demanding exchanges with Wang. “I was more focused on playing safely so that I can win the match.” With Akane Yamaguchi awaiting her in the final, An said she would concentrate on finding her rhythm quickly and staying focused on her own game. “I just focus on myself and do my best.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2026-carlos-alcaraz-and-serena-williams-pair-up-for-mixed-doubles-1787421276044">US Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams pair up for mixed doubles</a><h2>Lanier makes history for France</h2>In the men’s singles competition, France’s Alex Lanier reached his first world championship final after overcoming Canada’s Victor Lai 16-21, 21-13, 21-14 in an intense semi-final lasting one hour and 25 minutes. The ninth-seeded Lanier, already assured of becoming the first Frenchman to win a world championship medal after his quarter-final victory, had to recover from losing the opening game.&nbsp;Lai started strongly and raced to a 7-0 lead, but Lanier refused to surrender and forced his opponent to work for every point. The 21-year-old Frenchman then raised his level in the second game as Lai appeared to lose some of his energy. Lanier took advantage of the momentum shift, controlled the decisive game and sealed victory with a series of impressive winners. He dropped to his knees in celebration after securing his place in the final.&nbsp;France had already enjoyed another landmark result earlier in the day when mixed doubles pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue defeated China’s Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin in their semifinal. Lanier will face Japan’s Kodai Naraoka for the men’s singles world title. Naraoka recovered from losing the opening game to beat Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chien 17-21, 21-11, 21-10. Chou looked increasingly fatigued in the deciding game, allowing Naraoka to take control and reach his first world championship final.

Akane Yamaguchi faces An Se-young in the badminton world championship final, while France’s Alex Lanier reaches his first men’s singles final

Defending champion Akane Yamaguchi moved one step closer to a fourth badminton world championship title after defeating Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong in straight games on Saturday at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. The Japanese star won 21-12, 21-17, producing a dominant display in the opening game before being pushed harder in the second. Yamaguchi’s composure and experience ultimately proved decisive as she secured her place in the world championship final for the fourth time. Chochuwong had advanced to the semifinals after receiving a walkover in the quarterfinal when Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara withdrew with a knee injury. “I don’t look back at the previous wins that much, but yeah, it is amazing that I am here today and looking forward to enjoy the final," said Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi will now face top-ranked An Se-young in a blockbuster women’s singles final. The reigning Olympic champion and top seed overcame China’s world no. 3 Wang Zhi Yi 24-22, 21-16 in a 61-minute semifinal. An was forced to fight hard against a determined Wang, particularly in a tense opening game. Both players appeared to tire in the humid Delhi conditions during the second game, but An’s resilience helped her pull away and keep her bid for a second world championship gold medal alive. An Se-young admitted fatigue played a major role in her hard-fought semifinal victory over Wang Zhi Yi, saying the long rallies left both players exhausted. “I was only concentrating on recovering faster while breathing.” The world no. 1 said she focused on staying safe and composed during the demanding exchanges with Wang. “I was more focused on playing safely so that I can win the match.” With Akane Yamaguchi awaiting her in the final, An said she would concentrate on finding her rhythm quickly and staying focused on her own game. “I just focus on myself and do my best.” Also Read: US Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams pair up for mixed doubles Lanier makes history for France In the men’s singles competition, France’s Alex Lanier reached his first world championship final after overcoming Canada’s Victor Lai 16-21, 21-13, 21-14 in an intense semi-final lasting one hour and 25 minutes. The ninth-seeded Lanier, already assured of becoming the first Frenchman to win a world championship medal after his quarter-final victory, had to recover from losing the opening game. Lai started strongly and raced to a 7-0 lead, but Lanier refused to surrender and forced his opponent to work for every point. The 21-year-old Frenchman then raised his level in the second game as Lai appeared to lose some of his energy. Lanier took advantage of the momentum shift, controlled the decisive game and sealed victory with a series of impressive winners. He dropped to his knees in celebration after securing his place in the final. France had already enjoyed another landmark result earlier in the day when mixed doubles pair Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue defeated China’s Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin in their semifinal. Lanier will face Japan’s Kodai Naraoka for the men’s singles world title. Naraoka recovered from losing the opening game to beat Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chien 17-21, 21-11, 21-10. Chou looked increasingly fatigued in the deciding game, allowing Naraoka to take control and reach his first world championship final.

Akane Yamaguchi will face An Se-young in the women’s final, while France’s Alex Lanier reached his first men’s world championship final and will face Kodai Naraoka in the final

BWF World Championships: Akane Yamaguchi, An Se-young set up final showdown in women's single; Alex Lanier to face Kodai Naraoka in men's single

Defending Champion An Se Young once again underlined her supremacy with a clinical demolition of China’s Wang Zhi Yi in the women’s singles final while Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei defeated third seed Jonatan Christie in straight games to clinch the men’s singles title in the India Open 2026 on Sunday (Jan 18).&nbsp;The world no. 1 Korean came out all guns blazing against the Chinese second seed to win 21-13, 21-11 in the women’s singles final while Lin outclassed Christie 21-10, 21–18 in just 38 minutes to clinch his first BWF World Tour Super 750 title.&nbsp;In the mixed doubles final, Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran saved four match points in the second game to defeat the Danish combination of Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje 19-21, 25-23, 21-18.&nbsp;China won both the women’s and men’s doubles titles in contrasting fashion. In the women’s doubles summit clash Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning defeated Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto of Japan 21-11, 21-18 while Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang got the better of Hiroki Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita of Japan 17-21, 25-23, 21-16 in the men’s doubles final.&nbsp;But the star of the day was An Se Young, who had reached the women’s singles final without dropping a game and it looked like the 23-year-old was not willing to let that streak slip up against a player who had come close to winning the second game against her in the Malaysia Open Super 1000 last month.&nbsp;The Korean countered Wang’s deception with quality retrieving and a very tight net game that allowed her to attack more. This meant that Wang was always playing catch up against an opponent she has managed to win just one game in the last six clashes.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a>&nbsp;“Today, I was focused on playing more attacking as she is a difficult player to beat. I am happy that I could execute the plans and win another title,” said An Se Young.&nbsp;The men’s singles final also turned out to be a one-sided affair as the left-handed Lin’s relentless attacking unsettled Christie. The Taipei-shuttler took a 4-0 lead at the start and then never looked back as he raced from 10-5 to 18-5 in no time to pocket the opening game.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;The second game saw Christie changing tactics and engaging his opponent in longer rallies. The ploy seemed to have worked as the Indonesian opened up a 14-10 lead and looked a lot more comfortable as the score read 18-15 in his favour.&nbsp;But this was when Lin once again changed the pace of his play and grabbed five straight points to cap off a fantastic week for himself.&nbsp;“Today I think I played well. I didn’t feel the pressure in the final. I wanted to enjoy the match, and play in the moment. I got a leg injury in Malaysia, and hence I was not at my best but my injury healed well, and I did well here,” said Lin.&nbsp;

In the women’s doubles summit clash Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning defeated Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto of Japan 21-11, 21-18 while Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang got the better of Hiroki Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita of Japan 17-21, 25-23, 21-16 in the men’s doubles final.

Defending Champion An Se Young once again underlined her supremacy with a clinical demolition of China’s Wang Zhi Yi in the women’s singles final while Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei defeated third seed Jonatan Christie in straight games to clinch the men’s singles title in the India Open 2026 on Sunday (Jan 18). The world no. 1 Korean came out all guns blazing against the Chinese second seed to win 21-13, 21-11 in the women’s singles final while Lin outclassed Christie 21-10, 21–18 in just 38 minutes to clinch his first BWF World Tour Super 750 title. In the mixed doubles final, Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran saved four match points in the second game to defeat the Danish combination of Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje 19-21, 25-23, 21-18. China won both the women’s and men’s doubles titles in contrasting fashion. In the women’s doubles summit clash Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning defeated Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto of Japan 21-11, 21-18 while Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang got the better of Hiroki Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita of Japan 17-21, 25-23, 21-16 in the men’s doubles final. But the star of the day was An Se Young, who had reached the women’s singles final without dropping a game and it looked like the 23-year-old was not willing to let that streak slip up against a player who had come close to winning the second game against her in the Malaysia Open Super 1000 last month. The Korean countered Wang’s deception with quality retrieving and a very tight net game that allowed her to attack more. This meant that Wang was always playing catch up against an opponent she has managed to win just one game in the last six clashes. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds “Today, I was focused on playing more attacking as she is a difficult player to beat. I am happy that I could execute the plans and win another title,” said An Se Young. The men’s singles final also turned out to be a one-sided affair as the left-handed Lin’s relentless attacking unsettled Christie. The Taipei-shuttler took a 4-0 lead at the start and then never looked back as he raced from 10-5 to 18-5 in no time to pocket the opening game. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli The second game saw Christie changing tactics and engaging his opponent in longer rallies. The ploy seemed to have worked as the Indonesian opened up a 14-10 lead and looked a lot more comfortable as the score read 18-15 in his favour. But this was when Lin once again changed the pace of his play and grabbed five straight points to cap off a fantastic week for himself. “Today I think I played well. I didn’t feel the pressure in the final. I wanted to enjoy the match, and play in the moment. I got a leg injury in Malaysia, and hence I was not at my best but my injury healed well, and I did well here,” said Lin.

In the women’s doubles summit clash Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning defeated Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto of Japan 21-11, 21-18 while Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang got the better of Hiroki Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita of Japan 17-21, 25-23, 21-16 in the men’s doubles final.

India Open 2026: An Se Young, Lin Chun-Yi shine to be crowned women’s and men’s singles champions

India's campaign at the Korea Open Badminton Championships 2022 came to an end on Saturday after the country's top shuttlers -- PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth -- lost their respective semifinal matches at the Palma Stadium, here. 
 
Sindhu lost her women's singles last-four match 14-21, 17-21 against the world No. 4 An Seyoung in 48 minutes. 
 
Heading into the fixture, Sindhu, a former world champion had failed to beat the 20-year-old South Korean in any of their three previous meetings. The last time the two played each other, An Seyoung had denied the Indian ace the BWF World Tour Finals 2021 title. 
 
Sindhu tried to start the match aggressively but some astonishing retrievals from An Seyoung frustrated her as the South Korean raced to a 7-1 lead.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/womens-jr-hockey-world-cup-india-storms-into-semifinal-with-clinical-3-0-victory-over-south-korea-469361">Women's Jr Hockey World Cup: India storms into semifinals with clinical 3-0 victory over South Korea</a> 
 
The Indian shuttler managed to offset the early blows with a series of good points of her own but it was An Seyoung with an 11-6 lead heading into the first mid-game interval of the match. 
 
Despite Sindhu's best efforts, An Seyoung controlled the flow of the match and won the first game 21-14. 
 
Looking for a sharp response, Sindhu took a 3-0 lead in the second game but it was not long before An Seyoung responded and it was the South Korean again who led by two points at the break. 
 
An Seyoung's court coverage was exquisite and her range of shorts continued to baffle the Indian star as the match progressed. 
 
Trailing 14-9, Sindhu upped the ante and managed to bring down the deficit to just a single point with the help of some brilliant cross-court winners. 
 
However, it wasn't quite enough to topple the in-form South Korean who wrapped up the match.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/korea-open-pv-sindhu-defeats-thailands-busanan-ongbamrungphan-to-enter-womens-singles-semifinal-469354">Korea Open: PV Sindhu defeats Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan to enter women's singles semifinals</a> 
 
Meanwhile, Kidambi Srikanth also lost his men's singles semis against Indonesian second-seed Jonatan Christie by a 19-21, 16-21 scoreline. 
 
Srikanth, seeded fifth, started the match well and led for most of the first game but the world No. 8 Cristie flipped the script right at the end to take the lead. 
 
The second game was a tight affair in the initial stages but from a 14-all scoreline, Christie stepped up to take control and ended the match in 49 minutes. 
 
Srikanth's loss brought India`s campaign at the Korea Open to an end.

India's campaign at the Korea Open Badminton Championships 2022 came to an end on Saturday after the country's top shuttlers -- PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth -- lost their respective semifinal matches at the Palma Stadium, here.

India's campaign at the Korea Open Badminton Championships 2022 came to an end on Saturday after the country's top shuttlers -- PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth -- lost their respective semifinal matches at the Palma Stadium, here. Sindhu lost her women's singles last-four match 14-21, 17-21 against the world No. 4 An Seyoung in 48 minutes. Heading into the fixture, Sindhu, a former world champion had failed to beat the 20-year-old South Korean in any of their three previous meetings. The last time the two played each other, An Seyoung had denied the Indian ace the BWF World Tour Finals 2021 title. Sindhu tried to start the match aggressively but some astonishing retrievals from An Seyoung frustrated her as the South Korean raced to a 7-1 lead. ALSO READ: Women's Jr Hockey World Cup: India storms into semifinals with clinical 3-0 victory over South Korea The Indian shuttler managed to offset the early blows with a series of good points of her own but it was An Seyoung with an 11-6 lead heading into the first mid-game interval of the match. Despite Sindhu's best efforts, An Seyoung controlled the flow of the match and won the first game 21-14. Looking for a sharp response, Sindhu took a 3-0 lead in the second game but it was not long before An Seyoung responded and it was the South Korean again who led by two points at the break. An Seyoung's court coverage was exquisite and her range of shorts continued to baffle the Indian star as the match progressed. Trailing 14-9, Sindhu upped the ante and managed to bring down the deficit to just a single point with the help of some brilliant cross-court winners. However, it wasn't quite enough to topple the in-form South Korean who wrapped up the match. ALSO READ: Korea Open: PV Sindhu defeats Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan to enter women's singles semifinals Meanwhile, Kidambi Srikanth also lost his men's singles semis against Indonesian second-seed Jonatan Christie by a 19-21, 16-21 scoreline. Srikanth, seeded fifth, started the match well and led for most of the first game but the world No. 8 Cristie flipped the script right at the end to take the lead. The second game was a tight affair in the initial stages but from a 14-all scoreline, Christie stepped up to take control and ended the match in 49 minutes. Srikanth's loss brought India`s campaign at the Korea Open to an end.

Korea Open: PV Sindhu loses to An Seyoung in semi-final, Jonatan Christie topples Kidambi Srikanth

India shuttler PV Sindhu on Sunday came up short in the finals of the BWF World Tour Finals as the 26-year-old was defeated by South Korea's An Se-young in the summit clash.

Se-young defeated Sindhu by 21-16, 21-12 in the final match that lasted for just 39 minutes.

The South Korea shuttler came out all guns blazing in the first game and she blazed away with a 4-0 lead, but Sindhu was able to raise her game, and the first game was locked at 7-4 in favour of Se-young after the opening four minutes of the game.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bwf-world-tour-finals-pv-sindhu-trumps-akane-yamaguchi-in-semis-will-play-against-an-seyoung-in-final-434130">BWF World Tour Finals: PV Sindhu trumps Akane Yamaguchi in semis, will play against An Seyoung in final</a>

The 19-year-old An Se-young raised her level and Sindhu proved no match for her in the first game, and the South Korean was just one more game away from victory.

Young charged on with her momentum, and in the end, she defeated Sindhu in straight games to win the tournament.&nbsp;

On Saturday, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu had battled past Japan's Akane Yamaguchi into the final of the BWF World Tour Finals in Bali.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympic-champion-viktor-axelsen-silver-medallist-tai-tzu-ying-named-badminton-players-of-the-year-by-bwf-434111">Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, silver medallist Tai Tzu Ying named badminton players of the year by BWF</a>

Playing at the Mangupura Hall - 1, Sindhu defeated Yamaguchi 21-15, 15-21, 21-19 in 1 hour and 10 minutes.&nbsp;

India shuttler PV Sindhu on Sunday came up short in the finals of the BWF World Tour Finals as the 26-year-old was defeated by South Korea's An Se-young in the summit clash.

India shuttler PV Sindhu on Sunday came up short in the finals of the BWF World Tour Finals as the 26-year-old was defeated by South Korea's An Se-young in the summit clash. Se-young defeated Sindhu by 21-16, 21-12 in the final match that lasted for just 39 minutes. The South Korea shuttler came out all guns blazing in the first game and she blazed away with a 4-0 lead, but Sindhu was able to raise her game, and the first game was locked at 7-4 in favour of Se-young after the opening four minutes of the game. ALSO READ: BWF World Tour Finals: PV Sindhu trumps Akane Yamaguchi in semis, will play against An Seyoung in final The 19-year-old An Se-young raised her level and Sindhu proved no match for her in the first game, and the South Korean was just one more game away from victory. Young charged on with her momentum, and in the end, she defeated Sindhu in straight games to win the tournament. On Saturday, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu had battled past Japan's Akane Yamaguchi into the final of the BWF World Tour Finals in Bali. ALSO READ: Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, silver medallist Tai Tzu Ying named badminton players of the year by BWF Playing at the Mangupura Hall - 1, Sindhu defeated Yamaguchi 21-15, 15-21, 21-19 in 1 hour and 10 minutes.

BWF World Tour Finals: PV Sindhu loses against South Korea's An Se-young in summit clash

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu battled past Japan's Akane Yamaguchi into the final of the BWF World Tour Finals in Bali on Saturday.

Playing at the Mangupura Hall - 1, Sindhu defeated Yamaguchi 21-15, 15-21, 21-19 in 1 hour and 10 minutes.

PV Sindhu will now face South Korea's An Seyoung in the summit clash on Sunday.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympic-champion-viktor-axelsen-silver-medallist-tai-tzu-ying-named-badminton-players-of-the-year-by-bwf-434111">Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, silver medallist Tai Tzu Ying named badminton players of the year by BWF</a>

An Seyoung defeated Thailand`s Pornpawee Chochuwong 25-23, 21-17 in the first semifinal and is looking for her title hat-trick in Bali.

This was the 21st meeting between Sindhu and Yamaguchi. And after this win, Sindhu leads the head-to-head record by 13-8.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bwf-world-tour-finals-pv-sindhu-goes-down-to-pornpawee-chochuwong-in-dead-rubber-433831">BWF World Tour Finals: PV Sindhu goes down to Pornpawee Chochuwong in dead rubber</a>

In the group phase, the Indian won two matches and lost one. Her only loss came on Friday against Pornpawee Chochuwong.

The Thai player defeated Sindhu in the last Group match by 21-12, 19-21, 21-14 in a clash that lasted for one hour and 11 minutes.&nbsp;

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu battled past Japan's Akane Yamaguchi into the final of the BWF World Tour Finals in Bali on Saturday. Playing at the Mangupura Hall - 1, Sindhu defeated Yamaguchi 21-15, 15-21, 21-19 in 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu battled past Japan's Akane Yamaguchi into the final of the BWF World Tour Finals in Bali on Saturday. Playing at the Mangupura Hall - 1, Sindhu defeated Yamaguchi 21-15, 15-21, 21-19 in 1 hour and 10 minutes. PV Sindhu will now face South Korea's An Seyoung in the summit clash on Sunday. ALSO READ: Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, silver medallist Tai Tzu Ying named badminton players of the year by BWF An Seyoung defeated Thailand`s Pornpawee Chochuwong 25-23, 21-17 in the first semifinal and is looking for her title hat-trick in Bali. This was the 21st meeting between Sindhu and Yamaguchi. And after this win, Sindhu leads the head-to-head record by 13-8. ALSO READ: BWF World Tour Finals: PV Sindhu goes down to Pornpawee Chochuwong in dead rubber In the group phase, the Indian won two matches and lost one. Her only loss came on Friday against Pornpawee Chochuwong. The Thai player defeated Sindhu in the last Group match by 21-12, 19-21, 21-14 in a clash that lasted for one hour and 11 minutes.

BWF World Tour Finals: PV Sindhu trumps Akane Yamaguchi in semis, will play against An Seyoung in final

World No. 1 Japan's Kento Momota clinched the Indonesia Masters badminton tournament men's singles title after beating Denmark's Anders Antonsen in the final, here on Sunday. 
 
The 27-year old dismissed Antonsen with his typical high-octane game and registered a convincing 21-17, 21-11 victory in a 49-minute encounter. 
 
It's a significant win for Momota as it secured him his first World Tour title since a near-fatal car crash in January 2020.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indonesia-masters-kidambi-srikanth-defeats-hs-prannoy-to-qualify-for-semis-430529">Indonesia Masters: Kidambi Srikanth defeats HS Prannoy to qualify for semis</a> 
 
In the women's singles final, Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, who had beaten India's PV Sindhu in the semi-final, was defeated by An Se-Young. The South Korean shuttler, seeded four, won 21-17, 21-19 in a thrilling contest. 
 
In the men's doubles, Hoki Takuro and Kobayashi Yugo beat home favourites Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo in a thrilling three-setter, 21-11, 17-21, 21-19. It was the Japanese duo's first-ever win over Gideon and Sukamuljo and they collected their BWF World Tour Super 750 title trophy in as many months. 
 
Japan's great day continued in the women's doubles as Matsuyama Nami and Shida Chiharu outclassed South Korea's Jeong Na-eun and Korea Kim Hye-jeong 21-9, 21-11.

IN PICS:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/peng-shuai-world-seeks-answers-as-chinese-tennis-player-goes-missing-heres-is-what-we-know-so-far-430863">Peng Shuai: World seeks answers as Chinese tennis player goes 'missing'; Here's is what we know so far</a> 
 
The mixed doubles final was the only final without Japanese representation after Watanabe/Higashino bowed out in the semi-finals to Hong Kong's Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet. But the Tang and Tse were outclassed by Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai in the final, the Thai pairing winning 21-11, 21-12.

World No. 1 Japan's Kento Momota clinched the Indonesia Masters badminton tournament men's singles title after beating Denmark's Anders Antonsen in the final, here on Sunday.

World No. 1 Japan's Kento Momota clinched the Indonesia Masters badminton tournament men's singles title after beating Denmark's Anders Antonsen in the final, here on Sunday. The 27-year old dismissed Antonsen with his typical high-octane game and registered a convincing 21-17, 21-11 victory in a 49-minute encounter. It's a significant win for Momota as it secured him his first World Tour title since a near-fatal car crash in January 2020. ALSO READ: Indonesia Masters: Kidambi Srikanth defeats HS Prannoy to qualify for semis In the women's singles final, Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, who had beaten India's PV Sindhu in the semi-final, was defeated by An Se-Young. The South Korean shuttler, seeded four, won 21-17, 21-19 in a thrilling contest. In the men's doubles, Hoki Takuro and Kobayashi Yugo beat home favourites Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo in a thrilling three-setter, 21-11, 17-21, 21-19. It was the Japanese duo's first-ever win over Gideon and Sukamuljo and they collected their BWF World Tour Super 750 title trophy in as many months. Japan's great day continued in the women's doubles as Matsuyama Nami and Shida Chiharu outclassed South Korea's Jeong Na-eun and Korea Kim Hye-jeong 21-9, 21-11. IN PICS: Peng Shuai: World seeks answers as Chinese tennis player goes 'missing'; Here's is what we know so far The mixed doubles final was the only final without Japanese representation after Watanabe/Higashino bowed out in the semi-finals to Hong Kong's Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet. But the Tang and Tse were outclassed by Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai in the final, the Thai pairing winning 21-11, 21-12.

Indonesia Masters: Kento Momota clinches men's singles title after defeating Anders Antonsen

Shuttler <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/saina-nehwal-makes-first-round-exit-from-hong-kong-open-261705">Saina Nehwal</a> on Thursday progressed to the quarter-finals in the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/saina-nehwal-loses-to-carolina-marin-in-semi-final-of-malaysia-masters-191421">Malaysia Masters</a> after registering a win in the second round.

Nehwal defeated Korea's An Se Young 25-23, 21-12 in about minutes 38 minutes.

The first game saw back and forth action between both shuttlers, and in the end, Nehwal kept her cool to win it.

On Wednesday, the 29-year-old had outclassed Belgium's Lianne Tan 21-15, 21-17 to move ahead to the pre-quarterfinals.

Men's shuttlers <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fuzhou-china-open-p-kashyap-crashes-out-after-losing-to-viktor-axelsen-260476">Parupalli Kashyap</a> and Kidambi Srikanth lost their matches to Kento Momota and Chou Tien Chen respectively and as a result, crashed out of the tournament on Wednesday.

Shuttler Saina Nehwal on Thursday progressed to the quarter-finals in the ongoing Malaysia Masters after registering a win in the second round. Nehwal defeated Korea's An Se Young 25-23, 21-12 in about minutes 38 minutes.

Shuttler Saina Nehwal on Thursday progressed to the quarter-finals in the ongoing Malaysia Masters after registering a win in the second round. Nehwal defeated Korea's An Se Young 25-23, 21-12 in about minutes 38 minutes. The first game saw back and forth action between both shuttlers, and in the end, Nehwal kept her cool to win it. On Wednesday, the 29-year-old had outclassed Belgium's Lianne Tan 21-15, 21-17 to move ahead to the pre-quarterfinals. Men's shuttlers Parupalli Kashyap and Kidambi Srikanth lost their matches to Kento Momota and Chou Tien Chen respectively and as a result, crashed out of the tournament on Wednesday.

BWF: Saina Nehwal progresses to quarter-finals of Malaysia Masters

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bwf-world-championships-praneeth-settles-with-bronze-loses-to-kento-momota-in-semis-245368">BWF World Championships</a> defending champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-tour-finals-pv-sindhu-set-to-defend-title-in-china-267521">PV Sindhu</a> on Thursday cruised to the quarterfinals of the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/saina-nehwal-loses-to-carolina-marin-in-semi-final-of-malaysia-masters-191421">Malaysia Masters</a> after winning a second-round match.

The 24-year-old had the upper hand in the clash and thrashed Japan's Aya Ohori in straight games 21-10, 21-15 that lasted for 34-minute. The world number six will now play in her quarterfinal match on January 10.

Earlier in the day, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/saina-nehwal-stunned-in-first-round-of-china-open-260271">Saina Nehwal</a> defeated South Korea's An Se Young 25-23, 21-12 in 38 minutes. The first game saw back and forth action between both shuttlers. In the end, Nehwal kept her cool to win the match.

On Wednesday, the 29-year-old had outclassed Belgium's Lianne Tan 21-15, 21-17 to progress to the pre-quarterfinals.

Shuttlers <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fuzhou-china-open-p-kashyap-crashes-out-after-losing-to-viktor-axelsen-260476">Parupalli Kashyap</a> and Kidambi Srikanth crashed out of the tournament after losing their matches to Japan's Kento Momota and Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei respectively.

BWF World Championships defending champion PV Sindhu on Thursday cruised to the quarterfinals of the ongoing Malaysia Masters after winning a second-round match.

BWF World Championships defending champion PV Sindhu on Thursday cruised to the quarterfinals of the ongoing Malaysia Masters after winning a second-round match. The 24-year-old had the upper hand in the clash and thrashed Japan's Aya Ohori in straight games 21-10, 21-15 that lasted for 34-minute. The world number six will now play in her quarterfinal match on January 10. Earlier in the day, Saina Nehwal defeated South Korea's An Se Young 25-23, 21-12 in 38 minutes. The first game saw back and forth action between both shuttlers. In the end, Nehwal kept her cool to win the match. On Wednesday, the 29-year-old had outclassed Belgium's Lianne Tan 21-15, 21-17 to progress to the pre-quarterfinals. Shuttlers Parupalli Kashyap and Kidambi Srikanth crashed out of the tournament after losing their matches to Japan's Kento Momota and Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei respectively.

BWF: PV Sindhu cruises to quarterfinals of Malaysia Masters

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