How did South Korea beat Malaysia in the Asian Games women’s badminton team event?

South Korea won 3-1 in Ichinomiya after taking three of the four matches. An Se-young, Kim Ga-eun, and the doubles pair of Jeong Na-eun and Kim Hye-jeong each delivered wins for the defending champion.

Why does An Se-young say she likes playing in the badminton team event?

She said the team setting is fun because her teammates cheer her on during matches, which she does not get in singles play. She added that the support makes her feel more fired up and helped ease her early-tournament nerves.

Who will South Korea face next in the women’s badminton team event at the Asian Games?

South Korea will play Japan in the semifinals on Wednesday morning. Japan’s lineup includes Akane Yamaguchi, a longtime rival of An Se-young and the world No. 3 in women’s singles.

Asian Games Defending champion S. Korea reaches semifinals in women's badminton team event

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Summary

South Korea advanced to the semifinals of the women’s badminton team event at the Asian Games in Ichinomiya, Japan, after beating Malaysia 3-1 on Tuesday. Led by world No. 1 An Se-young, the defending champion will face Japan in Wednesday morning’s semifinals. An said she enjoys the team format because teammates cheer her on, which gives her extra motivation.

Key Facts

An Se-young opened the tie with a 2-0 win over Letshanaa Karupathevan, taking the match 21-12, 21-8.
South Korea’s only loss came when Lee So-hee and Baek Hana fell to Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan 2-0, losing 22-20, 21-17.
Kim Ga-eun beat Wong Ling Ching 2-0, winning 21-12, 21-18.
Jeong Na-eun and Kim Hye-jeong sealed the team victory with a 2-1 win over Cheng Su Yin and Low Zi Yu, 18-21, 21-11, 24-22.
Japan, South Korea’s semifinal opponent, features Akane Yamaguchi, who is ranked world No. 3 in women’s singles.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 22, 2026 3:16 pm KST

An Se-young of South Korea keeps her eyes on the shuttlecock during her singles match of the women's badminton team event quarterfinals at the Asian Games at Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Ichinomiya, Tuesday. Yonhap

NAGOYA, Japan — Led by world No. 1 An Se-young, defending champion South Korea advanced to the semifinals of the women's badminton team event at the Asian Games on Tuesday.

South Korea defeated Malaysia 3-1, after two singles and two doubles matches at Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Ichinomiya, just northwest of the main host city, Nagoya, Japan.

An, the reigning Olympic and world champion in the women's singles, led things off by beating Letshanaa Karupathevan 2-0 (21-12, 21-8).

In the next doubles match, though, world No. 2 tandem of Lee So-hee and Baek Hana lost to fifth-ranked team, Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan by 2-0 (22-20, 21-17).

But South Korea won the next two matches to grab its ticket to the semifinals.

Kim Ga-eun took care of Wong Ling Ching 2-0 (21-12, 21-18), before Jeong Na-eun and Kim Hye-jeong beat Cheng Su Yin and Low Zi Yu 2-1 (18-21, 21-11, 24-22).

An said afterward she enjoys the team event because she is surrounded by supportive teammates on the court — something she never gets to enjoy during singles matches.

"It is fun to hear my teammates cheer me on and this setting gets me fired up even more," she said. "I am just happy I was able to help the team. Since it is early in the tournament, I felt some nerves. I want to shake off fears of failure and play the way I want to play out there."

Up next will be Japan in the semifinals scheduled for Wednesday morning. The Japanese team features Akane Yamaguchi, a longtime rival of An ranked world No. 3 in the women's singles.

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