Akane Yamaguchi vs Shi Yuqi: Meet the defending champions heading to Delhi for BWF World Championships Badminton News

Akane Yamaguchi and Yuqi Shi (AP Photo)

New Delhi: Winning the world title is one thing. Defending it is a bigger challenge. As the BWF World Championships return to India after 17 years, attention will be on the five defending champions who come to New Delhi under pressure to stay on top. The tournament, scheduled to be held from August 17 to 23 at the Indira Gandhi (IG) Indoor Stadium, will see the world’s best players vie for badminton’s highest individual prize. TOI takes a look at those who are aiming to defend their titles at the BWF World Championships:

Shi Yuqi finally won the BWF World Championship for the first time in Paris, and then entered New Delhi as the defending men’s singles world champion. After finishing runner-up in 2018, the Chinese star completed the long-awaited world crown in 2025 with a composed performance. Known for his superior pull control, deceptive groundstrokes and tactical intelligence, Shih has been one of the most consistent players on the HSBC BWF World Tour over the past few seasons. As a former world number one and multiple Super 1000 champion, his goal is to become the first Chinese player to successfully defend the world championship after Chen Long.Main achievements

Akane Yamaguchi won the 2025 World Championships, adding another glorious chapter to her glorious career and becoming the second women’s singles player to win three world championships after China’s Zhang Ning. Already renowned for his incredible pace, defensive resilience and relentless retrieving ability, the Japanese star has been a model of consistency for nearly a decade. Despite being just over five feet tall, Yamaguchi has repeatedly defeated taller, more powerful opponents thanks to his excellent anticipation and court coverage. She arrived in India hoping to continue her legacy with a fourth world title.Main achievements

Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae quickly established themselves as the benchmark in men’s doubles. The Korean pair had a stellar 2025 season, winning the World Championship, followed by the BWF World Tour Finals title and several Super 1000 titles. Their partnership combines Seo’s vast experience and outstanding net play with Kim’s explosiveness and court coverage, making them one of the most complete doubles pairs in the world. They will begin the defense of their world title as one of the favorites in New Delhi.Main achievements

Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning, who are only in their early twenties, have become the new faces of China’s women’s doubles. Silver medalists at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the pair continued their rise by winning their first world championships in 2025. Their success is built on relentless offense, seamless rotations and outstanding consistency against the world’s best duos. Already among badminton’s elite, they come to New Delhi hoping to successfully defend the most important title of their careers.Main achievements

Chen Tangjie and Zhuo Yiwei made history in Paris, becoming the first mixed doubles world champions in Malaysian history. Their victory also made Zhuo the second Malaysian athlete to win a world championship gold medal in any event. Known for their aggressive style, quick transitions and excellent on-court understanding, the pair have developed into one of the strongest mixed doubles pairs on the BWF circuit. They traveled to New Delhi determined to prove that their breakthrough victory was just the beginning.Main achievements