Badminton has its new kings and queens

CHEN and TOH make history for Malaysia 

In a landmark moment for Malaysian badminton, CHEN Tang Jie and TOH Ee Wei (No. 4, Malaysia) triumphed in the Mixed Doubles final, marking a historic first. They clinched the world title against the young Chinese pair JIANG Zhen Bang and WEI Ya Xin (No. 2). Despite losing their last three encounters against the Chinese duo, they were imperious today, winning 21/15 21/14. Much more effective in defense, the Malaysians dominated the rallies from the very beginning. CHEN was particularly aggressive in his attacks while TOH completely shut down the net. Their Chinese opponents had no answers, and the Malaysians delivered Malaysia’s first-ever mixed doubles world title. 

Triple crowned, Akane YAMAGUCHI equals Carolina MARIN 

History was also made in the Women’s Singles, where Akane YAMAGUCHI (No. 5, Japan) secured her third world championship title—an achievement that places her alongside Spain’s Carolina MARIN. Facing China’s CHEN Yu Fei (No. 4), an Olympic champion and two-time world medalist, YAMAGUCHI put on a commanding performance. She raced to a 10/2 lead in the first set and closed it 21/9. The second set saw a tighter battle, with the Japanese star leading by just two points at the interval. However, a string of brilliant rallies helped her pull ahead 16/10 before she sealed the win 21/13. This dominant victory ties her with MARIN’s record, solidifying her place among badminton’s elite. 

First world title for LIU Sheng Shu and TAN Ning in women’s doubles 

In the Women’s Doubles final, China’s LIU Sheng Shu and TAN Ning (No. 1) showed why they are the top seeds, overcoming Malaysia’s Pearly TAN and Muralitharan THINAAH (No. 2) in a dramatic three-game match. After taking the first game 21/14 with relative ease, LIU and TAN faltered slightly, allowing the Malaysians to take the second set 22/20. But as fatigue set in for their opponents, the Chinese duo regained control to close out the match 21/17. Remarkably, this was their first world championship appearance—and they captured the title in style. Already winners of the Indonesia Open and China Open this season, LIU and TAN further cement their status at the top of the sport. 

Kunlavut VITIDSARN cedes his throne to SHI Yu Qi 

The Men’s Singles final featured a thrilling clash between Thailand’s defending champion Kunlavut VITIDSARN and China’s SHI Yu Qi, who had been chasing his first major title. In a rematch of the 2024 French Open final, SHI once again emerged victorious, winning in three hard-fought sets: 19/21, 21/10, 21/18. The match saw dramatic swings in momentum—VITIDSARN stole the first set after trailing 11/18, showcasing his incredible resilience. But SHI regrouped in the second, dominating 21/10, and then pulled ahead in the decider. Although VITIDSARN staged a late comeback, he couldn’t deny SHI the biggest title of his career. At age 29, SHI Yu Qi finally claims his long-awaited world crown. 

Kim and Seo crowned World Champions 

In the Men’s Doubles final, South Korea’s Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae, the tournament’s top seeds, lived up to expectations with a decisive win over China’s Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi (No. 11). Despite a slow start and early pressure from the Chinese pair, Kim and Seo turned things around to take the first set 21/17. They opened the second with an unstoppable 8/0 run and maintained their dominance, closing the match 21/12. With this performance, the Korean duo clinched their first men’s doubles world title together, demonstrating a combination of tactical mastery and relentless defense.