Top News

India Open 2026: Defending champion Ann Se Young on the threshold of title defence, Jonathan Christie in men’s singles final

Samira Vishwas | January 18, 2026 2:24 AM CST

New Delhi17 January. South Korean Ann Se Young, who is on top in the BWF world rankings and defending champion, has reached the threshold of defending her title in the women’s singles of the $9.50 lakh India Open Super 750 badminton tournament held here. Indonesia’s Jonathan Christie reached the men’s singles final.

World number two Wang will challenge Young for the title

Top seed Young, who has won 11 titles in the current season, defeated former world champion Rechanok Intanon of Thailand 21-11, 21-7 in the women’s singles semi-finals played on court number one of the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Saturday. She will now face world number two Wang Xi Yi of China, who defeated Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei 21-15, 23-21.

Christie defeats former world champion Loh Kien Yu

On the other hand, in the men’s singles semi-finals, third seed Christie defeated former world champion Low Kean Yew of Singapore 21-18, 22-20. Now she will face world number 12 Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei.

Will meet world number 12 Lin Chun-Yi in the final

Lin Chun-Yi, who ended the Indian challenge from the tournament a day earlier by defeating Lakshya Sen in a three-game clash, defeated 2025 World Championship bronze medalist Victor Lai of Canada 21-9, 6-21, 22-20 in the second semi-final.

In women’s doubles, Japan’s Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto defeated second seeds Pearly Tan and Tinnah Muralitharan of Malaysia 21-16, 21-13. China’s top seeded Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning defeated sixth seeded Korea’s Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee 21-12, 17-21, 21-14.

However, the match between Liu Sheng and Tan Ning and Baek and Lee So Hee had to be stopped for a while when something from the bird’s nest fell on the court. After inspection, the officials got the place cleaned. Won this match. Complaints regarding air quality levels, severe cold and cleanliness have been continuously received during the India Open being held for the first time at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. The World Badminton Championship is to be held here in August.