New Delhi, August 2026: The Capital witnessed a remarkable day of badminton as South Korea’s An Se-young reclaimed the women’s singles World Championships title, while France’s Alex Lanier captured his maiden men’s singles crown on Sunday.
The two finals produced contrasting stories but equally emphatic victories, with both champions dominating their opponents in straight games at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.
An Se-young Reclaims Women’s Singles Crown
Olympic champion An Se-young defeated defending champion Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-14 to become a two-time World champion.
The Korean star established control early and refused to allow Yamaguchi to settle into the long, physically demanding exchanges that have often defined their meetings. Instead, An played with greater aggression, taking calculated risks and attacking whenever openings appeared.
Her work at the net proved particularly effective. Precise drops and sharp exchanges in the forecourt repeatedly unsettled Yamaguchi, allowing An to dictate the tempo and maintain her advantage throughout the contest.
The victory adds another major achievement to an already outstanding career. An first won the World Championships in Copenhagen in 2023 before claiming Olympic gold at Paris 2024. She also secured bronze at last year’s World Championships in Paris. She is now back at the summit of the sport.
After sealing victory, An celebrated in unusually expressive fashion. She posed for photographers before sending a shuttle into the stands and then joined her coaching team. Her celebration provided a fitting end to another dominant campaign in New Delhi.
Alex Lanier Makes French History
France’s Alex Lanier produced one of the most commanding performances of the championships, defeating Japan’s Kodai Naraoka 21-11, 21-11 in only 50 minutes.
The 21-year-old entered the final with an unbeaten record in title matches during 2026, having already won the Singapore Open. He showed no signs of pressure on the biggest stage, combining explosive movement with exceptional control.
The opening game was competitive until Lanier led 12-9. He then shifted gears, winning nine of the next 11 points to establish a decisive advantage.
Naraoka attempted to fight back in the second game, cutting an 8-3 deficit to 8-7, but Lanier quickly restored his authority. His powerful cross-court and straight-line attacks, coupled with impressive backcourt precision, left the Japanese player struggling for answers.
Lanier’s victory capped a historic day for French badminton, coming shortly after Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue won France’s first World Championships gold in mixed doubles. With European success across both singles and mixed doubles, New Delhi became a landmark venue for French badminton and another defining stage in An Se-young’s growing legacy.