South Korea's An Se-young became the first woman to successfully defend the Asian Games women's singles badminton title, defeating Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-9 at Aichi-Nagoya on September 29.
The world and Olympic champion took control of the final from the start, cutting through a tense opening game before racing away in the second. Yamaguchi, a former world champion, was kept under constant pressure by An's movement and shot-making as the Korean closed out the match in straight games.
The victory made An the first female player in Asian Games history to win back-to-back singles gold medals — a record that underlines her dominance of the women's game over the past two seasons.
The result came on a rain-hit day ten of full competition at the Games, with organisers dealing with the fallout of a weakened typhoon that had shifted away from southern Japan. Cricket quarter-finals were washed out without a ball being bowled, transport disruptions continued to affect athlete schedules, and logistical problems plagued several venues.
But the badminton final cut through the gloom. An's title defence adds to a remarkable run that has seen her hold the world, Olympic and Asian Games crowns, and her straight-games win over Yamaguchi reinforced the gap between the Korean and the rest of the field.
For Japan, Yamaguchi's silver is a respectable outcome but will be remembered as another missed opportunity to reclaim the Asian Games title against her greatest rival.
The Games continue in Aichi-Nagoya through the coming week, with athletics, boxing and hockey finals among the headline events still to come.
Sources:
Reuters
The world and Olympic champion took control of the final from the start, cutting through a tense opening game before racing away in the second. Yamaguchi, a former world champion, was kept under constant pressure by An's movement and shot-making as the Korean closed out the match in straight games.
The victory made An the first female player in Asian Games history to win back-to-back singles gold medals — a record that underlines her dominance of the women's game over the past two seasons.
The result came on a rain-hit day ten of full competition at the Games, with organisers dealing with the fallout of a weakened typhoon that had shifted away from southern Japan. Cricket quarter-finals were washed out without a ball being bowled, transport disruptions continued to affect athlete schedules, and logistical problems plagued several venues.
But the badminton final cut through the gloom. An's title defence adds to a remarkable run that has seen her hold the world, Olympic and Asian Games crowns, and her straight-games win over Yamaguchi reinforced the gap between the Korean and the rest of the field.
For Japan, Yamaguchi's silver is a respectable outcome but will be remembered as another missed opportunity to reclaim the Asian Games title against her greatest rival.
The Games continue in Aichi-Nagoya through the coming week, with athletics, boxing and hockey finals among the headline events still to come.
Sources:
Reuters
