'World No. 1' China defeated, Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee write new history in badminton... 'For the first time in 31 years,' women's doubles gold medal

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korean women's doubles pair of Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee (both from Incheon International Airport) defeated the world No. 1 Chinese pair to claim the world championship title for the first time in 31 years.

World No. 3 Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee completely defeated the world No. 1 Chinese pair of Liu Xing-shu and Tan Ning at the women's doubles final of the 2026 BWF World Championships held in New Delhi, India, on the 23rd (Korean time), winning in just 51 minutes with a game score of 2-0 (21-15, 21-15).

With this victory, Korean badminton secured its first women's doubles gold medal at the World Championships since the pair of Gil Young-ah and Jang Hye-ok in 1995, fulfilling a long-held dream after 31 years. Lee So-hee, whose best result was a silver medal at the 2021 tournament, and Baek Ha-na, who had previously only reached the round of 16, both embraced their first-ever World Championship champion trophy.

Until before the match, the Liu Xing-shu-Tan Ning pair had been the most formidable opponent for Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee. They trailed in head-to-head records with six wins and eleven losses, and suffered five consecutive defeats this season, repeatedly stumbling against them. In particular, after achieving back-to-back titles at last December's World Tour Finals, they had only managed runner-up finishes at the Malaysia Open and All England Open earlier this season, making this victory especially significant as a chance for redemption.

However, with their coordination sharpened ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the Korean duo delivered a flawless performance on the final stage.

From the start of the first game, they immediately scored five consecutive points to seize the initiative. Taking advantage of Liu Xing-shu's frequent errors and moments of instability, Korea took control and built a lead up to 17-11. Although China mounted a comeback with three consecutive points to close the gap, Korea remained composed and scored three straight points at 18-15 to win the first game 21-15.

The second game also followed Korea's rhythm. After tying at 4-4, they scored three consecutive points to take a 7-4 lead and reached the interval with an 11-7 advantage. Although China mounted a fierce chase to narrow the gap to just one point at 13-12, Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee relentlessly targeted Liu Xing-shu in the backcourt, quickly scoring five consecutive points to crush their opponent's will to pursue. With flawless court management, they secured the remaining points and sealed the match with a decisive six-point victory.

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*This content was translated by AI.