BIRMINGHAM, England – The South Korean women’s doubles team of Baek Hana and Lee So-hee saw their hopes for a return to the top of the badminton world dashed on Sunday, falling to the Chinese duo of Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning in the final of the 2026 All England Open. The match, held at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, ended with a score of 0-2 (18-21, 12-21).
The defeat marks another near miss for Baek and Lee, who were aiming to reclaim the title they won in 2024. This year’s tournament saw the world No. 4 Korean pair navigate a challenging bracket, culminating in a highly anticipated final against the top-ranked Chinese team. The All England Open, steeped in 127 years of tradition, remains one of the most prestigious events on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour.
The Korean duo had previously overcome a tough semi-final match, defeating Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia 2-0 (21-17, 21-18). That victory was a significant step forward, especially considering their round-of-16 exit at the same tournament last year. However, they were unable to carry that momentum into the championship match.
The first game proved to be a closely contested affair. Baek and Lee initially held a lead at 13-11, but a series of errors allowed the Chinese pair to regain control. Facing relentless attacks and powerful smashes from Liu and Tan, the Koreans found themselves trailing 15-19. A late surge saw them close the gap to 18-19, but they ultimately couldn’t overcome the deficit, losing the first game 18-21.
The second game offered little respite for Baek and Lee. They struggled to convert long rallies into points and found themselves consistently on the defensive against the Chinese team’s aggressive play. Falling behind 11-14, the Koreans were unable to mount a comeback, conceding the second game 12-21 and with it, the championship.
This loss continues a frustrating trend for Baek and Lee against Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning. They had previously fallen to the same Chinese pair in the finals of the Malaysia Open in January and the semi-finals of the India Open. The Chinese duo have proven to be a formidable opponent, consistently exploiting weaknesses in the Korean’s defensive game.
Looking back, the 2024 All England Open victory for Baek and Lee, where they defeated Japan’s Matsuyama Nami and Shida Chiharu 2-1, stands as a high point in their partnership. Prior to that, in 2023, they were runners-up, losing to fellow Koreans Kim So-yeong and Kong Hee-yong 0-2. The consistency of reaching the latter stages of major tournaments demonstrates their quality, but the inability to consistently overcome the top Chinese teams remains a challenge.
The All England Open has a rich history in badminton, and this year’s tournament once again showcased the sport’s highest level of competition. While Baek Hana and Lee So-hee will undoubtedly be disappointed with the result, their performance throughout the week underscored their status as one of the world’s leading women’s doubles teams. The defeat serves as a valuable learning experience as they look ahead to future challenges on the BWF World Tour.
The next confirmed event for Baek Hana and Lee So-hee is yet to be announced, but fans can follow updates on the Badminton World Federation’s official website ([https://bwfbadminton.com/](https://bwfbadminton.com/)) for the latest schedule information.
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