South Korea beats China 3-1 to clinch third Uber Cup title in Horsens
Synopsis
South Korea's women's team proved too strong for defending champions China, clinching their third Uber Cup crown in Horsens with a 3-1 victory. An Se-young's dominance in singles and a remarkable doubles comeback by Baek Ha-na and Kim Hye-jeong sealed the title — a statement of intent from a rising badminton powerhouse.
Key Takeaways
South Korea defeated China 3-1 to win their third Uber Cup title on 3 May 2026 in Horsens, Denmark .
1 An Se-young beat world No.
2 Wang Zhiyi 21-10, 21-13 in 47 minutes .
17 Kim Ga-eun upset world No.
4 Chen Yufei 21-19, 21-15 in 55 minutes .
Baek Ha-na and Kim Hye-jeong staged a comeback from 16-21 down to win 21-10, 21-13 and clinch the tie.
India's men's team won bronze, losing 0-3 to France in the semi-finals; Lakshya Sen missed the match due to an elbow injury.
South Korea delivered a commanding team performance to defeat defending champions China 3-1 and claim their third Uber Cup title at the Forum Horsens in Denmark on 3 May 2026. The victory underscores South Korea's emergence as a formidable force in women's team badminton, having previously won the trophy in Kuala Lumpur (2010) and Bangkok (2022), both times against the same opponent.
An Se-young sets the tone
World No. 1 An Se-young opened the final with a dominant display, dispatching world No. 2 Wang Zhiyi in straight games — 21-10, 21-13 — in just 47 minutes. The Korean ace's clinical performance gave her team an early psychological edge and set expectations for what would follow.
China equalises through doubles prowess
China responded swiftly through the world's top-ranked women's doubles pair, Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning, who proved too formidable for South Korea's Jeong Na-eun and Lee So-hee. The Chinese duo won 21-15, 21-12 in 53 minutes, levelling the tie at 1-1 and keeping China's bid for a 17th title alive.
Kim Ga-eun's composed masterclass
South Korea regained momentum in the second singles rubber when world No. 17 Kim Ga-eun produced a composed and technically sound performance to upset world No. 4 Chen Yufei with a scoreline of 21-19, 21-15 in 55 minutes. The victory brought South Korea within touching distance of the trophy.
Baek and Kim complete the comeback
In the decisive doubles encounter, Baek Ha-na and Kim Hye-jeong faced China's Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian and found themselves down after the opening game, losing 16-21. However, the Korean pair staged a remarkable turnaround, capturing the next two games 21-10, 21-13 in 85 minutes to seal the tie and crown themselves champions.
India's bronze and Lakshya's injury setback
Notably, the Indian men's team returned from the Thomas & Uber Cup 2026 in Horsens with a bronze medal after falling 0-3 to France in the semi-finals on 2 May. The 2022 champions, who had upset Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals, faced a significant handicap when top singles player Lakshya Sen was ruled out due to an elbow injury ahead of their semifinal clash — a loss that proved decisive in their campaign.
Point of View
They are no longer the challengers — they are the standard-setters. China's 16 titles remain formidable, but South Korea's consistency in beating them on the sport's biggest stage suggests the next era may belong to the Koreans. For India, the loss of Lakshya Sen to injury was a blow that underlined how thin their margin for error remains at elite tournaments.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the Uber Cup final between South Korea and China?
South Korea won 3-1 against China. An Se-young won her singles match, China equalised through their doubles pair, Kim Ga-eun won her singles, and Baek Ha-na and Kim Hye-jeong won the decisive doubles to seal the tie.
Who are South Korea's key players in this Uber Cup victory?
World No. 1 An Se-young was the standout performer, defeating Wang Zhiyi in straight games. Kim Ga-eun upset Chen Yufei in the second singles, and the doubles pair of Baek Ha-na and Kim Hye-jeong staged a comeback to clinch the title.
How many Uber Cup titles has South Korea now won?
South Korea has won three Uber Cup titles — in Kuala Lumpur (2010), Bangkok (2022), and Horsens (2026). They have defeated China in all three finals.
What happened to India's men's team at the Thomas & Uber Cup 2026?
India's men's team won a bronze medal after losing 0-3 to France in the semi-finals. Their campaign was hampered by the absence of top singles player Lakshya Sen, who was ruled out due to an elbow injury.
