Sawt Falasteen - South Korea's top-ranked An fires Olympic warning with Paris title

The South Korean won her 21st BWF World Tour crown and second of the year with an 18-21, 21-13, 21-10 defeat of Japanese rival Akane Yamaguchi on Sunday in the French capital.

The 22-year-old An, who will be favourite to win a first Olympic gold in four months' time, said: "This is an important event before the Olympics and I felt a lot of pressure at first.

"Winning in the Olympic arena means a lot and I feel very happy.

"I guess when I come back here for the Olympics I will be in a positive frame of mind."

The tournament at Porte de la Chapelle Arena was also treated as a test event for Paris Olympic organisers.

An has risen to the top of women's badminton after a breakthrough 2023, but she has struggled in recent weeks with a knee injury.

Former world number one Yamaguchi, who has also been held back by recent injury, was contesting her first World Tour final since September.

The 26-year-old said that she ran out of steam in the 64-minute title decider.

"I slowed down in the third," said the Japanese player, ranked four in the world.

"Right now my condition is much better (than two months ago) and I was able to make the final, but I feel there's some more way to go."

China's Shi Yuqi, number two in the world, won the men's French Open title with a 22-20, 21-19 victory over Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

The All England Open, one of the most prestigious tournaments in badminton, begins on Tuesday.

U.Shaheen--SF-PST