An defeated China’s Bingjiao in straight sets, 21-13, 21-16. From the outset, An was dominant, taking the first set by eight points. Although Bingjiao raised her game in the second set, An's strength and consistency ensured her victory.

She became South Korea's first Olympic women's singles champion since 1996, AFP reports. "I've been saving up my feelings for the last seven years for this moment," she said after the match. "All the agony, the frustration, this is where it all came out," the 22-year-old added. 

An is sure that her best days are yet to come and that she can play even better in the future. "I always try to dream big, I always try to have the confidence that I can achieve that dream. "I think that's why I've been able to achieve so much at such a young age," she said.

An won the first world title of her career in 2023, defeating Rio 2016 gold medallist Carolina Marin in the final. Marin came close to a rematch in Paris, leading He 1-0 in sets and 10-8 in the second set in the semi-final, but she was injured and retired from the match.

"I was thinking about Marin and hoping to carry her spirit into the final. I feel sorry for her because she is an outstanding athlete. I wanted her to watch me and I hope she recovers soon," said silver medallist He after the final. Indonesia's Gregoria Mariska Tunjung took the bronze medal without competing after Marin's withdrawal.

Denmark's Axelsen retained his Olympic badminton title on Monday, dominating Thailand's world champion Vitidsarn in the men's singles final in Paris. Supported by enthusiastic Danish fans at La Chapelle Arena, Axelsen, the second seed, defeated his eighth-seeded opponent 21-11, 21-11 in 52 minutes. 

Axelsen became the first man to retain the Olympic men's singles title since China's Lin Dan in 2008 and 2012. Vitidsarn's silver marked Thailand's first Olympic badminton medal. Axelsen quickly found his rhythm after a strong start from Vitidsarn, winning the first game in 24 minutes. The Dane's powerful smashes proved unstoppable in the second game, securing his victory. After the win, Axelsen celebrated with a Danish flag around the arena.

After clinching his victory, Axelsen flashed a broad smile and embraced Kunlavut, demonstrating great sportsmanship, while the chants of  "Viktor, Viktor" resonated through La Chapelle Arena.

In the bronze match, India’s Lakshya Sen narrowly missed out on a historic men’s singles bronze medal, losing to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia 13-21, 21-16, 21-11. Despite a strong start, Sen, ranked 22nd, couldn’t sustain his momentum against the world No. 7. 

After winning the first game convincingly, Sen struggled with mental recovery and a forearm injury, allowing Lee to dominate the final two games. Sen, the reigning Commonwealth champion, had previously made history by becoming the first Indian to reach the men’s singles semi-finals at the Olympics, defeating Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien-chen in the quarter-finals.