(Asiad) Badminton star An Se-young captures 2nd straight women's singles gold
ICHINOMIYA, Japan, Sept. 29 (Yonhap) -- World No. 1 An Se-young claimed her second straight Asian Games gold medal in badminton in central Japan on Tuesday, becoming the first player to successfully defend the women's singles title at the continental competition.
An defeated Akane Yamaguchi, world No. 3 from Japan, by 2-0 (21-17, 21-9) in the women's singles final of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Ichinomiya, just northwest of the main host city, Nagoya.
An Se-young of South Korea hits a return to Akane Yamaguchi of Japan during the women's singles badminton final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Ichinomiya, Japan, on Sept. 29, 2026. (Yonhap)
An is now the first player to win back-to-back Asiad gold medals in the women's singles since the event was first held in 1962.
An has won nine consecutive meetings against Yamaguchi, including twice at this year's Asian Games. Before the singles final, An got the better of her Japanese rival in the women's team event semifinals on Wednesday.
An's gold was South Korea's second badminton title on Tuesday, coming moments after Lee So-hee and Baek Hana won the women's doubles gold medal.
An Se-young of South Korea hits a return to Akane Yamaguchi of Japan during the women's singles badminton final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Ichinomiya, Japan, on Sept. 29, 2026. (Yonhap)
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