Shenzhen, September 05 (H.S.): World No. 1 South Korean shuttler An Se-young defeated Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in straight games to book her place in the women’s singles final of the China Masters 2026.

In the semi-final played at the Shenzhen Arena on Saturday, An Se-young overcame Yamaguchi 21-13, 21-15.

The encounter was another meeting between the two players following last month’s World Championships in India. An Se-young had also defeated Yamaguchi in the World Championships final to claim the title, and the South Korean once again produced the same result at the China Masters.

Yamaguchi made a strong start to the contest and briefly led 5-4 in the opening game. However, An Se-young mounted a forceful comeback and denied her Japanese opponent any opportunity to settle into a rhythm. She went on to win the first game 21-13 and continued to dominate in the second, securing it 21-15 to seal her place in the final.

An Se-young has won the China Masters title in successive years, in 2024 and 2025. She will now be aiming to complete a hat-trick of titles. If she wins the tournament again this year, she will draw level with Chion Wei-pei for the most China Masters women’s singles titles. Chion won the tournament three times, in 2018, 2019 and 2023.

In the final, An Se-young will face the winner of the second semi-final between Tomoka Miyazaki and Wang Zhiyi.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar