How did Baek Hana and Lee So-hee win the women’s doubles world title in New Delhi?

They defeated China’s Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning 21-15, 21-15 in the final at the Badminton World Federation World Championships in New Delhi. They dominated both games, building key leads and closing out the match in 51 minutes.

Why was Baek Hana and Lee So-hee’s world title historically significant for South Korean badminton?

It was South Korea’s first triumph in the women’s doubles event in more than 30 years. They became only the second South Korean duo to win the title, following Gil Young-ah and Jang Hye-ock in 1995.

What happened to Seo Seung-jae, Kim Won-ho, and An Se-young at the same World Championships?

Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho lost in the men’s doubles semifinals to Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. Later on Sunday, An Se-young was scheduled to play second-ranked Akane Yamaguchi in the women’s singles final.

S. Korean women's badminton doubles team captures world title

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Summary

Baek Hana and Lee So-hee captured South Korea’s first women’s doubles badminton world title in over three decades in India on Sunday. They beat China’s Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning 21-15, 21-15 in the Badminton World Federation World Championships final in New Delhi. The pair became only the second South Korean women’s doubles duo to win the event, after Gil Young-ah and Jang Hye-ock in 1995. In men’s doubles, Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho lost in the semifinals, while An Se-young was set to face Akane Yamaguchi in the women’s singles final later Sunday.

Key Facts

Baek Hana and Lee So-hee won the final in 51 minutes.
They took the first five points of the match and never trailed in the opening game.
In the second game, they turned a 4-4 tie into a 10-5 lead and then finished with five straight points.
Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho lost to Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-17, 21-18 in the men’s doubles semifinals.
An Se-young is world No. 1, while Akane Yamaguchi was world champion in 2021, 2022 and 2025.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 23, 2026 8:36 pm KST

South Korea's Baek Hana, right, and Lee So-hee pose after their win against China's Tan Ning and Liu Sheng Shu in the women's doubles final match of the Badminton World Championships in New Delhi, India, Sunday. AP-Yonhap

Baek Hana and Lee So-hee teamed up for the women's doubles badminton world title in India on Sunday, South Korea's first triumph in the event in over three decades.

Baek and Lee defeated Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning of China 21-15, 21-15 in the women's doubles final at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

Baek and Lee became just the second South Korean duo to win the world title in the women's doubles — and the first since Gil Young-ah and Jang Hye-ock in 1995.

Baek and Lee scored the match's first five points and never trailed in winning the first game over Liu and Tan.

In the second game, the teams were tied at 4-4 before Baek and Lee opened up a 10-5 lead. The Chinese duo cut it to 13-12, only to see Baek and Lee score five unanswered points and clinch the title in 51 minutes.

In the men's doubles, Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho failed to defend their title, after losing in the semifinals to Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia, 21-17, 21-18.

Later Sunday, world No. 1 An Se-young will take on second-ranked Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the women's singles final. An won her first world title in 2023, while Yamaguchi was crowned the champion in 2021, 2022 and 2025.

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