Chen stuns top seed An, sets up BWF World Championships final with Yamaguchi

Reigning champion An Se-young suffered a “bitter” upset against Chen Yufei on Saturday as the Chinese player downed the top seed to set up a World Championships final with Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in Paris.

The fourth seed stunningly bested the South Korean 21-15, 21-17 to book her spot in Sunday’s title decider.

Yamaguchi had earlier seen off Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani 21-17, 14-21, 21-6 in the other semifinal.

Former World silver medallist Chen capitalised on a rare sluggish start by An to clinch the first game.

A nasty-looking ankle twist suffered by Chen early in the second game looked to have given World No. 1 An a way back into the match, but the Chinese player shook off the pain to clinch a straight-games victory.

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“I couldn’t manage to get used to the conditions of the hall today, so it was a bit of a bitter match for me,” Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist An told reporters through an interpreter.

“(Chen twisting her ankle) didn’t mean that the match actually ended, so I was busy taking care of my match, and I guess I lost my way at the same time,” the 23-year-old added of her opponent, who forewent speaking to the press in order to receive treatment immediately after the match.

Two-time champion Yamaguchi produced a scintillating third game to storm into the third World Championship title match of her career.

Akane Yamaguchi, of Japan, returns a shot to Putri Wardani, of Indonesia, during their women’s singles semifinal match.
| Photo Credit:
AP

“It’s been a while since I’ve played in a final,” said the 28-year-old who came into the match having been eliminated from her last five consecutive tournaments at the semi-final stage.

“I reckon I’ll just go for it… I’m hoping to keep challenging myself and enjoy the experience.

“I still don’t think (my chances of winning are) that high, but since it’s the final now, I’d like to go in feeling like I’ve got a 50-50 chance.”

Later, top seed Shi Yuqi of China will face Canadian world number 50 Victor Lai for a place in the men’s final.

Reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand will dispute the other last-four match with second seed Dane Anders Antonsen.

Published on Aug 30, 2025