Yonex Swiss Open stars shone at the World Championships

Badminton fans with a soft spot for the Yonex Swiss Open had many déjà-vu moments at the World Championships in Paris. The players who lit up Basel also excelled at the Worlds.

As so often in recent years, the athletes who competed in Basel impressed again at the just-concluded Worlds in last year’s Olympic arena. Players who also took part in Basel this year won a total of nine medals on the Seine — almost half of all medals awarded. Gold went to Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning, the 2025 Swiss Open finalists, who in their opening match in Paris in the second round also defeated the Swiss pair Lucie Amiguet/Caroline Racloz.

Worlds silver went to Basel champion Chen Yu Fei (China). In the final she was hampered by an ankle injury sustained in her semi-final win over defending champion An Se Young (KOR), and lost to now three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi. Silver also went to Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who exited in the quarter-finals at the Rhine earlier this year and has now reached three of the sport’s biggest finals in a row — twice at the Worlds and once at the Olympics. The mixed duo Wei Ya Xin/Jiang Zheng Bang also climbed to the second step of the podium; in Basel they had competed with different partners.

Many of Europe’s stars also played in Basel this year, including Anders Antonsen and the home favourites Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue. Both won bronze, and the French pair set new decibel records with the crowd.

Do you want to see a large share of the sport’s stars live again in St. Jakobshalle from 10 to 15 March 2026? Then mark 10 September boldly in your calendar — that’s when ticket sales start, including an early-bird special. (mke)