New Delhi, India: The 2026 BWF World Championships have reached the semifinal stage, with several of badminton’s biggest names still in contention after a dramatic day of quarterfinal action in New Delhi.
Women’s singles top seed An Se Young continued her impressive run with a straight-game victory over China’s Han Yue, while Wang Zhi Yi and Akane Yamaguchi also booked their places in the last four.
Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong completed the women’s singles semifinal line-up after advancing by walkover against Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara.
There was also a major result for India in women’s doubles, where Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela came from behind to eliminate China’s fourth seeds Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian.
Meanwhile, mixed doubles top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping survived an all-Chinese three-game battle to stay in the hunt for the world title.
An Se Young Beats Han Yue to Reach Semifinals
World No. 1 and top seed An Se Young continued to look formidable in women’s singles, defeating China’s fifth seed Han Yue 21-19, 21-12.
Han pushed the South Korean star hard in the opening game, but An remained composed during the crucial closing rallies to take it 21-19.
The second game was far more comfortable for the top seed. An established control early and pulled away to complete the match 21-12.
- Winner: An Se Young of South Korea
- Defeated: Han Yue of China
- Score: 21-19, 21-12
- Round: Women’s singles quarterfinal
Wang Zhi Yi Sets Up All-Asian Semifinal With An Se Young
China’s third seed Wang Zhi Yi also reached the semifinals with one of the most convincing performances of the quarterfinal round.
Wang defeated Denmark’s 15th seed Line Christophersen 21-10, 21-7.
The Chinese player controlled the match from the beginning and never allowed Christophersen to establish enough momentum to threaten an upset.
- Winner: Wang Zhi Yi of China
- Defeated: Line Christophersen of Denmark
- Score: 21-10, 21-7
Wang will now challenge An Se Young in one of the headline semifinals on August 22.
The match is scheduled on Court 1 and is estimated to begin around 4:20 p.m.
Pornpawee Chochuwong Advances by Walkover
Thailand’s 10th seed Pornpawee Chochuwong progressed to the semifinals without taking the court after Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara withdrew from their scheduled quarterfinal.
The walkover sends Pornpawee into the last four, continuing a strong World Championships campaign that included her earlier victory over China’s Chen Yu Fei.
- Advanced: Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand
- Opponent: Nozomi Okuhara of Japan
- Result: Walkover
Akane Yamaguchi Defeats Michelle Li
Second seed Akane Yamaguchi made sure Japan would still be represented in the women’s singles semifinals by defeating Canada’s Michelle Li.
Yamaguchi won 21-17, 21-10 against the 13th-seeded Canadian.
Li stayed close in the opening game, but Yamaguchi gradually imposed her pace and defensive consistency before taking control completely in the second.
- Winner: Akane Yamaguchi of Japan
- Defeated: Michelle Li of Canada
- Score: 21-17, 21-10
Yamaguchi will face Pornpawee in the semifinals on August 22, with their match estimated to begin at approximately 1:50 p.m. on Court 1.
2026 World Championships Women’s Singles Semifinals
- An Se Young of South Korea vs Wang Zhi Yi of China
- Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand vs Akane Yamaguchi of Japan
Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning Continue World Title Challenge
China’s top-seeded women’s doubles pair Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning moved into the semifinals with a straight-game victory over Hong Kong’s Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam.
Liu and Tan won 21-14, 21-17, maintaining control through both games despite stronger resistance from the Hong Kong pair in the second.
- Winners: Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning of China
- Defeated: Yeung Nga Ting/Yeung Pui Lam of Hong Kong
- Score: 21-14, 21-17
Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand Stun Chinese Fourth Seeds
India celebrated one of the biggest women’s doubles results of the quarterfinals when Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela knocked out China’s fourth seeds Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian.
The Indian pair lost the opening game 16-21 but responded superbly to take the second 21-15.
With the home crowd behind them, Treesa and Gayatri carried their momentum into the decider and completed the upset 21-13.
- Winners: Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand Pullela of India
- Defeated: Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian of China
- Score: 16-21, 21-15, 21-13
The victory sets up a semifinal between Treesa-Gayatri and top seeds Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning.
The match is scheduled for August 22 on Court 1 and is estimated to begin around 2:40 p.m.
Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee Dominate Indonesian Pair
South Korea’s third seeds Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee were dominant in their women’s doubles quarterfinal.
The Koreans defeated Indonesia’s 13th seeds Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari 21-11, 21-11.
Febriana and Meilysa had reached the quarterfinals after eliminating Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan, but they were unable to reproduce that performance against the Korean pair.
- Winners: Baek Ha Na/Lee So Hee of South Korea
- Defeated: Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Meilysa Trias Puspitasari of Indonesia
- Score: 21-11, 21-11
Li Yi Jing-Luo Xu Min Secure Semifinal Place
China’s eighth seeds Li Yi Jing and Luo Xu Min also advanced with a straight-game victory over Indonesia’s Rachel Allessya Rose and Febi Setianingrum.
Li and Luo won 21-13, 21-14 to book a semifinal meeting with Baek and Lee.
- Winners: Li Yi Jing/Luo Xu Min of China
- Defeated: Rachel Allessya Rose/Febi Setianingrum of Indonesia
- Score: 21-13, 21-14
The South Korea-China semifinal is scheduled for August 22 on Court 1 and is estimated to begin around 12:10 p.m.
2026 World Championships Women’s Doubles Semifinals
- Baek Ha Na/Lee So Hee of South Korea vs Li Yi Jing/Luo Xu Min of China
- Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning of China vs Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand Pullela of India
Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping Survive Chinese Derby
Mixed doubles top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping kept their World Championships title hopes alive after surviving a three-game battle against compatriots Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi.
Cheng and Zhang, the eighth seeds, made the better start and captured the opening game 21-18.
Feng and Huang responded emphatically in the second, dominating 21-10 before completing the comeback with a 21-15 victory in the deciding game.
- Winners: Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping of China
- Defeated: Cheng Xing/Zhang Chi of China
- Score: 18-21, 21-10, 21-15
Amri Syahnawi-Nita Violina Marwah Reach Semifinals
Indonesia’s Amri Syahnawi and Nita Violina Marwah produced an impressive straight-game performance to reach the mixed doubles semifinals.
The Indonesian pair defeated Chinese Taipei’s 11th seeds Yang Po-Hsuan and Hu Ling Fang 21-18, 21-9.
After a competitive first game, Amri and Nita took complete control of the second and allowed their opponents only nine points.
- Winners: Amri Syahnawi/Nita Violina Marwah of Indonesia
- Defeated: Yang Po-Hsuan/Hu Ling Fang of Chinese Taipei
- Score: 21-18, 21-9
Amri and Nita will now challenge top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in the semifinals.
The match will open semifinal action on Court 1 at 10:30 a.m. on August 22.
Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue Advance by Walkover
France’s fifth seeds Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue reached the mixed doubles semifinals without playing their quarterfinal.
Thailand’s fourth seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran withdrew, handing the French pair a walkover into the last four.
- Advanced: Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue of France
- Opponent: Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Supissara Paewsampran of Thailand
- Result: Walkover
Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin Eliminate Guo Xin Wa-Chen Fang Hui
China’s second seeds Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin completed the mixed doubles semifinal line-up with a straight-game victory over fellow Chinese pair Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui.
Jiang and Wei defeated the sixth seeds 21-13, 21-17.
- Winners: Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin of China
- Defeated: Guo Xin Wa/Chen Fang Hui of China
- Score: 21-13, 21-17
The second seeds will face France’s Gicquel and Delrue in the semifinals on August 22, with the match estimated to begin at approximately 11:20 a.m.
2026 World Championships Mixed Doubles Semifinals
- Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping of China vs Amri Syahnawi/Nita Violina Marwah of Indonesia
- Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue of France vs Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin of China
World Championships Enter Medal Stage in New Delhi
The 2026 BWF World Championships are now entering their decisive weekend, with the semifinal fields confirmed across several events.
An Se Young remains firmly on course for the women’s singles title, but Wang Zhi Yi stands between the South Korean and another World Championships final.
On the other half of the draw, Akane Yamaguchi will attempt to overcome Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong.
India will have major home interest in women’s doubles after Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela’s comeback victory over Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian earned them a place among the final four pairs.
China, meanwhile, remains strongly represented across both women’s doubles and mixed doubles, with several of its leading partnerships still competing for world titles.
With every remaining player and pair now guaranteed to be within one victory of a World Championships final, the badminton action in New Delhi is set for a dramatic semifinal day on August 22.
