The 2026 Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo produced a series of commanding performances and breakthrough moments, with An Se Young and Shi Yu Qi emerging as the new singles champions.
In the women’s singles final, world No. 1 An Se Young finally secured her long-awaited BAC title after a hard-fought victory over China’s Wang Zhi Yi. She prevailed 21-12, 17-21, 21-18 in a physically demanding contest that tested her endurance and composure.
After taking the opening game comfortably, An was pushed back in the second as Wang raised her intensity. However, the South Korean regained control in the decider, holding firm in key rallies to close out the match and confirm her status as the dominant force in women’s badminton.
The men’s singles final was far more one-sided, with Shi Yu Qi producing a clinical performance to defeat India’s Ayush Shetty 21-8, 21-10. The world No. 1 controlled the tempo from start to finish, using sharp attacking play and precision to overwhelm his opponent and claim his first BAC crown.
Despite the defeat, Shetty’s run to the final was a standout storyline of the tournament. The world No. 25 recorded impressive wins over several top players, including Li Shi Feng, Chi Yu Jen, Jonatan Christie, and Kunlavut Vitidsarn, marking him as one of the breakout performers of the competition.
In men’s doubles, South Korea’s reigning world champions Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae continued their strong form, defeating compatriots Kang Min Hyuk and Ki Dong Ju 21-13, 21-17 to secure the title.
The women’s doubles crown went to China’s Li Yi Jing and Luo Xu Min, who were awarded the title after their opponents Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning retired while trailing in the opening game.
In mixed doubles, South Korea’s Kim Jae Hyeon and Jang Ha Jeong were crowned champions after Thailand’s Dechapol Puavarnukroh and Supissara Paewsampran withdrew due to injury.
The tournament ultimately reinforced the dominance of China and South Korea across multiple disciplines, while also highlighting emerging challengers ready to disrupt the established order in the seasons ahead.
