Sheer joy: Shuttlers Seo Seung-jae (left) and Kang Min-hyuk celebrate after winning the men's doubles title, which was South Korea's third on the final day of action at the World Championships in Copenhagen. - Badminton Photo
PETALING JAYA: South Korea swept three world titles for the first time in the World Championships with Seo Seung-jae emerging as the big winner.
The 25-year-old Seung-jae combined superbly with his younger partner Kang Min-hyuk, 24, to break the hearts of the fans in Copenhagen by beating home pair Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in the men's doubles final at the Royal Arena on Sunnday (Aug 27).
Seung-jae-Min-hyuk came from behind to claim a hard-fought 14-21, 21-15, 21-17 victory to make it a glorious day for South Korea.
The decider was a thriller as both traded blow for blow before the Koreans stood solid in the crucial stage to romp home for the win.
It was Seung-jae's second title after winning the mixed doubles earlier.
He had earlier played brilliantly with Chae Yu-jung to stun China's world No. 1 and defending champions Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong (Chn) 21-17, 10-21, 21-18 in the mixed doubles final.
"I'm sorry to disappoint the Danish fans here. I can't believe it, I've won two world titles here," said Seung-jae, who become the first Korean in 24 years to win a double.
Kim Dong-moon was the last to sweep two titles in the men's doubles with Ha Tae-kwon and mixed with Ra Kyung-min.
Earlier, An Se-young had pulled off a historic win when she became the first women's singles shuttler from South Korea to capture the world title since the tournament's inception in 1977.
The 21-year-old Se-young defeated Spain's three-time former champion Carolina Marin 21-12, 21-10 in the final, that saw the youngster dominating play from the start.
"I'm so happy to win this title. It means so much to me," said a thrilled Se-young, who had to settle for bronze last year in Tokyo.
In the men's singles, 22-year-old Kunlavut Vitidsarn became the first player from Thailand to win the title after he fought hard to overcome Japan's 22-year-old Kodai Naraoka 19-21, 21-18, 21-7 in a gruelling one hour and 49 minutes battle.
RESULTS
Men's singles: Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) bt Kodai Naraoka (Jpn) 19-21, 21-18, 21-7.
Men's doubles: Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae (Kor) bt Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (Den) 14-21, 21-15, 21-17.
Women's singles: An Se-young (Kor) bt Carolina Marin (Spa) 21-12, 21-10.
Women's doubles: Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (Chn) bt Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti (Ina) 21-16, 21-12.
Mixed doubles: Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-jung (Kor) bt Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong (Chn) 21-17, 10-21, 21-18.
