Yamaguchi overwhelms injured Chen to claim third world crown

The women's singles final at the BWF World Championships proved a muted affair, largely because Chen Yufei limped through it.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics champion, still hampered by an ankle she twisted in her semifinal against World No. 1 An Se young, took eight painkillers before the match but was plainly curtailed in her movement. Japan's Akane Yamaguchi made no mistake: aggressive, precise and untroubled by the drama, she beat Chen comfortably 21–9, 21–13 to claim her third world championships crown.

It was Chen's second appearance in a world final and though she fought on gamely, the injury reduced the contest to something of a one sided exercise rather than the battle fans had hoped for.

In mixed doubles, Malaysia's Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei produced a straight games upset of China's Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin 21–15, 21–14, delivering Malaysia its first ever world championships gold in the event.

And in the men's doubles, top seeds Kim Won ho and Seo Seung jae of South Korea dismissed Chinese debutants Chen Boyang and Liu Yi 21–17, 21–12 to lift the title.