Chen Yufei Battles Through Injury to Reach BWF World Championships Final; Canadian Victor Lai Makes History

August 31, 2025

PARIS – Chen Yufei displayed grit and determination, overcoming an ankle injury to defeat South Korea’s An Se-young, the reigning Olympic gold medalist, in the women’s singles semifinal at the BWF World Championships 2025. the match, held at the Adidas Arena on Saturday, saw Chen secure a 2-0 victory, advancing to Sunday’s final [[1]].

Chen,the tokyo 2020 champion,extended her head-to-head record against an,notching her 14th win in their 27 encounters. An,who has been in stellar form this season with six tour titles,proved a formidable opponent.The match was a display of world-class badminton, reminiscent of a heavyweight boxing match where each player traded blows with precision and power.

In the first game, both players showcased remarkable control during extended rallies. However, Chen capitalized on unforced errors from An, unleashing precise smashes to claim the game 21-15. The final point came with a powerful cross-court winner that left An scrambling.

The second game took a dramatic turn when Chen rolled her ankle during a defensive maneuver while trailing 6-3. Collapsing in pain, she received medical attention before returning to the court. Displaying remarkable resilience, Chen elevated her game, exploiting An’s forehand corner with sharp pushes and maintaining relentless precision. An, perhaps feeling the pressure, faltered with repeated errors, allowing Chen to close out the match 21-17.

An Se-young, visibly disappointed, offered a candid assessment of her performance. To be honest, I felt like I played stupidly, An admitted. I was afraid of making mistakes. My readiness for the World championship was very good. I did my best before the competition, but I felt like I didn’t show my abilities.

I feel really sad right now.I lost my way from the beginning. I couldn’t find a way to make the rallies, to control the match. My clears, my smashes, my timing, everything was bad. So I guess I lost everything at the same time.

An se-young,after her semifinal loss

Chen will now face two-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in Sunday’s final. Yamaguchi advanced after a three-game battle against Indonesia’s Putri kusuma Wardani, winning 21-17, 14-21, 21-6.

Men’s Singles: Shi Yuqi Survives Scare; Victor Lai Makes Canadian History

The men’s singles semifinals provided just as much drama. Top seed Shi Yuqi saved two match points in the second game before mounting a stunning comeback to defeat Canadian sensation Victor Lai 13-21, 22-20, 21-16.

Lai, only 20 years old, capped off a breakthrough campaign with a historic bronze medal, becoming the first Canadian ever to reach the World Championships podium. This achievement is akin to a college basketball player leading their team to the Final Four – a testament to raw talent and dedication. His triumphant run included an upset victory over 2021 world champion Loh Kean Yew.

Lai, a student at York University in Toronto, now faces a decision about his future. School can always take a pause. I’m part-time so depending on how much I can handle [balancing] school and badminton, I’ll see, he told Olympics.com. This echoes the decisions faced by many young athletes in the U.S., weighing the demands of academics against the allure of professional sports.

Shi Yuqi’s victory marks his first appearance in a World Championships final as 2018. He will face Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who defeated Shi in the Olympic quarterfinals at the same arena last year, adding extra spice to Sunday’s match. Vitidsarn advanced with a 21-17, 21-15 victory over Denmark’s Anders Antonsen in his semifinal.

The memory of Shi’s straight-games loss to Vitidsarn in Paris is still fresh, making Sunday’s clash a highly anticipated showdown. it’s a rematch with high stakes, similar to a Super Bowl where both teams are seeking redemption.

Doubles Finals Set

China has secured places in all three doubles finals, demonstrating their dominance in the sport. In women’s doubles, Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning will face Malaysia’s Thinaah Muralitharan and Tan Pearly.Top-seeded Kim Won Ho and seo Seung Jae of South Korea will compete against China’s Chen Boyang and Liu yi in men’s doubles. In mixed doubles, China’s Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin will meet Malaysia’s Chen Tang jie and Toh ee Wei.

The BWF World Championships 2025 [[2]], held in Paris [[3]], promises thrilling finals across all categories. For U.S. sports fans, this tournament offers a glimpse into the global landscape of badminton, a sport gaining increasing popularity and recognition.