[Asian Games] Badminton star An Se-young captures 2nd straight women's singles gold

ICHINOMIYA, Japan — World No. 1 An Se-young claimed her second straight Asian Games gold medal in badminton in central Japan on Tuesday, becoming the first player to successfully defend the women's singles title at the continental competition. An defeated Akane Yamaguchi, world No. 3 from Japan, by 2-0 (21-17, 21-9) in the women's singles final of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Ichinomiya, just northwest of the main host city, Nagoya. An is now the first player to win back-to-back Asiad gold medals in the women's singles since the event was first held in 1962. An has won nine consecutive meetings against Yamaguchi, including twice at this year's Asian Games. Before the singles final, An got the better of her Japanese rival in the women's team event semifinals on Wednesday. An's gold was South Korea's second badminton title on Tuesday, coming moments after Lee So-hee and Baek Hana won the women's doubles gold medal. Yamaguchi came out strong, taking a 4-1 lead with some powerful shots that appeared to catch An by surprise. An took her first lead of