The China Mail - Ruthless An retains Asian Games badminton crown as Kunlavut triumphs

An, the Olympic and world champion from South Korea, has not lost a match since March and gave another ruthless display in dominating Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-9 in the final in Nagoya.

It was the 24-year-old's eighth title of an incredible 2026 and gave her a second Asian Games gold after winning three years ago in Hangzhou.

China's Lin, regarded as the greatest badminton player of all time, won two Asian Games men's singles titles.

He also won Olympic gold twice and was a five-time world champion.

"I am trying to keep up with this great athlete," said world number one An.

"There are lots of strong athletes that have achieved great things, and they motivate me to also perform well."

An has only lost one match this year and of the titles she did not win, she finished runner-up at the All-England Open and pulled out injured from the Japan Open.

She won her second world crown in August in New Delhi.

"I'm very happy that I can keep winning titles," she said.

"I think this is a result of my ability to focus.

"I wouldn't necessarily call myself invincible, but I never give up and I always play my best game."

An has now won her last nine matches against Yamaguchi, who is ranked number three in the world and a three-time world champion.

- Kunlavut wins men's title -

Backed by pockets of vocal Korean fans, including members of her family, An made a slow start but battled back and took control of the first game.

She sent Yamaguchi sprawling with one smash to the line, before clinching the first game with a backhand flick at the net.

An kept up her assault in the second game, building a big lead to make her latest title look inevitable.

It arrived when Yamaguchi hit a serve return long, and An celebrated by dropping to her knees and letting out a scream.

"I'm overcome with emotion," she said.

"The fact that I won in front of my family was a great experience."

Kunlavut beat Singapore's Loh Kean Yew 21-12, 21-16 in the men's final.

Kunlavut, who returned to the world number one ranking, became the first Thai man to win the title.

"Before I came here, everything about my performance was not good enough to win a medal," he said.

"Now I got the gold medal and everyone is really happy."

South Koreans Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na won the women's doubles.

Indonesia's Daniel Marthin and Leo Rolly Carnando clinched the men's doubles.

China's Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin won mixed doubles gold.

O.Yip--ThChM