NEW DELHI: Packed to the rafters, the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium was witnessing history on multiple fronts on Sunday.
On the final day of the BWF World Championships here, badminton’s royalty reaffirmed its dominance while a rising European power jolted the sport’s global hierarchy.
At the centre of the spectacle was South Korea’s An Se Young, who captured her second women’s singles crown in a brilliant display, the Olympic champion and world No.1 defeating Japan’s defending champion Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-14 in 49 minutes.
Elsewhere, the narrative shifted dramatically as France found unprecedented success, winning the men’s singles and the mixed doubles titles.
Coming into the tournament, 24-year-old Korean sensation An boasted an otherworldly 38-1 season record, yet questions lingered over her physical condition. Taping below her right knee told a story of remarkable endurance. Her semi-final win over China’s Wang Zhi Yi had pushed An to the brink, leaving her physically drained.
