Akane Yamaguchi expressed doubts about her ability to win another world title.
But the Japanese badminton standout proved once again that she remains a top-level player with a 21-9, 21-13 triumph over China's Yufei Chen in the women's singles final at the 2025 Badminton World Championships in Paris on Sunday, August 31.
A strong start ― she led 10-2 in the opening set ― helped propel Yamaguchi to victory over the fourth-seeded Chen, the Tokyo Olympic champion in 2021. There was a rapid verdict, too, with Yamaguchi winning in 37 minutes.
Akane Yamaguchi Reacts to Latest World Title
"I felt the chance to win was very slim [before the tournament]," Yamaguchi was quoted as saying by Agence France-Presse. "Coming into it as the underdog, winning despite not having results this year, I think that gives it a different kind of value."
Chen was not at full strength in the final, having sustained a right ankle injury on the previous day.
"I think there were moments she (Chen) couldn't react, so I did hit a bit more aggressively," Yamaguchi said after the match, according to Agence France-Presse.
The fifth-seeded Yamaguchi, 28, played impressively in the earlier stages of the tourney. She didn't lose a set in any of her first four matches in the French capital to book a spot in the semifinals.
Yamaguchi, who also won world titles in 2021 and 2022, has struggled of late in the biggest matches. She had had five straight defeats in tournament semifinal matches.
And so, after her 21-17, 14-21, 21-6 victory over Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani in the semifinals on Saturday, Yamaguchi weighed in on her mindset for the title match.
"I reckon I'll just go for it, and I'm hoping to keep challenging myself and enjoy the experience," Yamaguchi said, according to Agence France-Presse.
She added: "I still don't think [my chances] 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."
Akane Yamaguchi became the second woman to win the world title three times. Spaniard Carolina Marin (2014, 2015, 2018) first accomplished the feat.
