Badminton "queen" An Se-young (Samsung Life Insurance), who returned to the court after overcoming an injury, has spectacularly reclaimed the top spot at the World Championships.

Women's singles world number one An Se-young defeated world number two Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 2-0 (21-17, 21-14) in the women's singles final of the 2026 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships held in New Delhi, India, claiming the gold medal.

Having achieved the historic feat of becoming the first South Korean singles player to win the World Championships at the 2023 Copenhagen tournament, An has now recaptured the global throne after three years.

This victory is especially significant given that, despite not being in full physical condition due to the aftermath of an injury, she accomplished a "flawless" victory without dropping a single game throughout the tournament.

Marking her return in about a month after her unstoppable winning streak was temporarily halted last month at the Japan Open due to pain in her left foot, this tournament served as her comeback stage.

In the semifinals, An defeated world number three Wang Zhiyi of China, extending her overwhelming dominance with 13 wins and 1 loss in their last 14 encounters. In the final, she continued her six-match winning streak against the tournament's defending champion, Yamaguchi, firmly showcasing her unmatched status as the ultimate powerhouse.

True to a showdown between the world's top two players, the final unfolded with fast and aggressive rallies reminiscent of a men's doubles match.

After a fierce battle in the early stages of the first game, An seized the momentum with consecutive points from 7-7, reaching the interval at 11-8.

At 15-15, she temporarily gave up the lead after Yamaguchi successfully requested a video review (challenge), but that was the extent of the crisis.

Displaying strong concentration in a tight 17-17 tie, An swept the final four points in a row to successfully claim the opening game.

In the early part of the second game, a fiercely determined Yamaguchi mounted a strong offensive to take the early initiative.

However, An remained unshaken.

Trailing 6-5, An turned the tide with consecutive points, landing her signature sharp diagonal smash to score four straight points from a 7-7 tie, reaching the interval ahead at 11-7.

After the break, Yamaguchi chased closely to 11-10, but An calmly accumulated points to quickly widen the gap to 16-11.

The highlight of the match was a breathtaking 33-shot rally.

Fending off fierce attacks with spectacular defense, An immobilized Yamaguchi with a breathtaking, deceptive drop shot.

Maintaining an unwavering pace throughout the match, An comfortably dominated the court until the end, forcing an error from Yamaguchi on the final match point to wrap up the victory in 49 minutes.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)