BWF Worlds: Lanier, Gicquel-Delrue Win Gold as An Se Young Reclaims Crown

New Delhi: An Se Young returned to the summit of women’s badminton with a statement victory, defeating defending champion Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-14 to claim her second BWF World Championships title in New Delhi on Sunday.

The world No. 1 produced a composed display in a final played at relentless speed, absorbing Yamaguchi’s attacking bursts before taking control at crucial moments. The Japanese star, ranked No. 2, repeatedly threatened to turn the contest around, but An’s consistency and ability to finish points under pressure proved decisive.

The triumph completes a remarkable return to the top for An, who won her maiden world title in Copenhagen in 2023 before becoming Olympic champion in Paris the following year. She took bronze at last year’s World Championships in Paris.

An also extended her winning streak against Yamaguchi to six matches, improving her overall record against the Japanese to 20-15.

She completed her six-match campaign in New Delhi without dropping a game, reclaiming the crown she had lost last year.

Yamaguchi, a three-time world champion, had been seeking an unprecedented fourth women’s singles title but was denied by An’s controlled finish.

The victory also keeps An as the only South Korean singles player, male or female, to have won a world title.

Before the New Delhi World Championships 2026, France had only ever won two bronze medals in the entire history of the tournament. On Sunday, they added two gold medals to their kitty, completely rewriting their future.

The mixed doubles pair of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, and men’s singles player Alex Lanier became the first French badminton players to become world champions.

Thom and Delphine, the World No. 5 French pair, stunned the World No. 1 duo of Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping of China in the mixed doubles final 22-20, 19-21, 21-15 in one hour and 18 minutes to claim the biggest title of their careers.

Moments later, at just 21 years old, Alex Lanier has made history, defeating Kodai Naraoka 21-11, 21-11 to become the first Frenchman to win the men's singles title in the BWF World Championships.

For Thom and Delphine, it is a remarkable step up from last year's World Championships in France, where the pair took bronze. Twelve months later, they have gone all the way to gold. Their victory also ended a 17-year wait for a European pair to win the mixed doubles World Championships.

With China's record of winning at least one title since they entered the world championships in 1983 on the line, third seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang rose to the occasion by beating former champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia 21-16, 21-17 to continue the streak. This was Liang and Wang's first World title.

Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee ended Korea’s a 31-year wait for a women's doubles crown by upsetting Chinese top seeds Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning 21-15, 21-15. Korea last won the women's doubles title in 1995. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand received their bronze medals as well.  Agencies

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