Nagoya (Japan) (AFP) - South Korea’s world number one An Se-young said she wanted to follow in the footsteps of badminton legend Lin Dan after becoming the first woman to win two Asian Games singles titles on Tuesday.

The reigning Olympic and world champion has not lost a match since March and she gave another ruthless display in dominating Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-9 in the final in Nagoya.

It was the 24-year-old’s eighth title of an incredible 2026 and gave her a second Asian Games gold after winning three years ago in Hangzhou.

China’s Lin, regarded as the greatest badminton player of all time, won two Asian Games men’s singles titles.

He also won Olympic gold twice and was a five-time world champion.

“I am trying to keep up with this great athlete,” she said.

“There are lots of strong athletes that have achieved great things, and they motivate me to also perform well.”

An has only lost one match this year and of the titles she did not win, she finished runner-up at the All-England Open and pulled out injured from the Japan Open.

She won her second world crown in August in New Delhi.

“I’m very happy that I can keep winning titles,” she said.

“I think this is a result of my ability to focus.

“I wouldn’t necessarily call myself invincible, but I never give up and I always play my best game.”

- ‘Overcome with emotion’ -

An has now won her last nine matches against Yamaguchi, who is ranked number three in the world and is a three-time former world champion.

“The way to look at playing against her is that it’s a challenge – you can’t think you don’t want to play against her just because she’s so good,” said Yamaguchi.

“I think it’s a great thing for me that there’s a player out there who I can challenge myself against.”

Backed by pockets of vocal Korean fans in the arena, including members of her family, top-ranked An made a slow start but battled back and took control of the first game.

She sent Yamaguchi sprawling with one smash to the line, before clinching the first game with a backhand flick at the net.

An kept up her assault in the second game, building a big lead to make her latest title look inevitable.

It arrived when Yamaguchi hit a serve return long, and An celebrated by dropping to her knees and letting out a scream.

“I’m overcome with emotion,” she said.

“The fact that I won in front of my family was a great experience.”

Fellow South Koreans Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na won the women’s doubles gold after a marathon 26-28, 21-18, 21-18 win over China’s Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning.

The match was poised at 18-each in the final game when Liu went down with an ankle injury.

She managed to continue but the Korean pair took advantage to close out the match.

China’s Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin won the mixed doubles final, beating Indonesia’s Amri Syahnawi and Nita Violina Marwah 21-19, 21-8.