Anseong-yeong secured back-to-back badminton gold medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, defeating Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in straight games. The milestone victory at the Ichinomiya City Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture made her the first singles player in tournament history to successfully defend an Asian Games title since badminton joined the program in Jakarta in 1962.
Defending the Asian Games Gold Medal in Straight Games
World number one Anseong-yeong defeated world number three Akane Yamaguchi 2-0 with set scores of 21-17 and 21-9 in the women’s singles final. The victory marks her second continental gold following her triumph at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. She completed the tournament without dropping a single game, repeating her straight-set dominance from the World Championships held in August.
“I didn’t think about the first-ever title and just went into the match wanting to win, but once it ended, it was overwhelming,” Anseong-yeong said after the final. She added that the gold medal represents a step forward in her career rather than a final destination: “No one knows how much further I can grow, so I’m looking forward to it myself.”
Anseong-Yeong Maintains Unbeaten Run with Victory over Yamaguchi
The straight-games victory over Yamaguchi cements a dominant stretch for the Samsung Life player on the international circuit. Having claimed consecutive major titles without conceding a single game across the World Championships and the Asian Games, Anseong-yeong has established a distinct competitive edge over her continental rivals. The match in Aichi Prefecture lasted just two games as the top seed controlled the pace against the host nation’s leading contender.
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