South Korea's An Se-young solidified her position as the premier player in women's badminton by clinching the Olympic gold on Monday, defeating China's He Bingjiao in the championship match in Paris. The reigning world champion An, who has maintained the top ranking for the past year, overcame her sixth-seeded rival 21-13, 21-16 at the vibrant La Chapelle Arena. At just 22, An is the leading figure in women's badminton and secured eight titles on the badminton world tour last year. She marks South Korea's first Olympic women's singles champion since 1996. He, who was defeated in the bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics three years prior, advanced to the final after her opponent Carolina Marin was forced to retire in their semifinal due to a knee injury. He aimed to capture China's third badminton gold at the Paris Games, following victories in mixed and women's doubles. He pushed An to the limit in a high-speed first game, but the South Korean gradually pulled ahead towards the end. An sealed the first game when He inadvertently smashed the return into the net. An swiftly took control in the second game, and her victory seemed imminent. He briefly halted her momentum with a spectacular smash return midway, but An remained unstoppable and secured the win on her third match point. Indonesia's Gregoria Mariska Tunjung claimed the bronze by default following Marin's semifinal withdrawal.