Badminton - South Korean women dominate as Lanier crushes Naraoka to become first Frenchman to win singles world title
South Korean badminton star An Se-young won her second world title, while Frenchman Alex Lanier made history by becoming the first French player to win a singles world championship. The tournament also saw South Korea secure a women's doubles title for the first time in 31 years.
Why it matters
The results highlight significant shifts in international badminton dominance and the emergence of new talent in the French circuit.
NEW DELHI (Reuters): Reigning Olympic champion An Se-young outwitted defending world champion Akane Yamaguchi 21-17 21-14 to win her second world title in grand style to bag the women's singles title in the World Championships on Sunday.
Frenchman Alex Lanier also made history when he beat Kodai Naraoka 21-11 21-11 to become the first French player to win a singles title in badminton's World Championships on Sunday.
An tested three-time women's singles world champion Yamaguchi with smashes near the sideline, as the two went toe to toe in the first game, with nothing to separate them at 17-17.
But the 24-year-old South Korean dug deep to win the next four points and seal the first game, before prevailing in some high-speed long rallies in the second game to clinch her second world title, having previously won it in 2023.
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