Canadian badminton star Michelle Li added yet another milestone to her illustrious career, capturing her seventh women’s singles title at the XXIX YONEX Pan Am Individual Championships 2026 in Peru. Li overcame compatriot Wen Yu Zhang 21-16, 22-20 in a hard-fought final, saving a game point in the second game to seal victory.
“Always feels great to be in a final,” said Li. “I don’t think you can ever be in too many finals. So I’m really happy that I was able to play today. It means a lot to win. I think I’ve played this many times, but every time it’s different: different circumstances, different time, different stage of my life. So being able to win this tournament, having lost last year, I think it means a lot.”
Li also praised her opponent’s resilience, noting: “She played quite well in the end of the second game and she wasn’t making any mistakes, she was hitting everything on the line. So I had to kind of put it in my head, ‘I just gotta fight for every shot’ and just work.”
In men’s singles, Canada’s Victor Lai successfully defended his title with a commanding 21-11, 21-9 win over El Salvador’s Uriel Francisco Canjura Artiga. Lai, who claimed his second Pan Am crown, spoke highly of his opponent’s tenacity: “Uriel’s fighting spirit is really strong. He doesn’t give up. So that made me keep focused for the whole match. Even if I’m winning by many points, he can always come back.”
Double Delight for Presley Smith
Team USA swept all three doubles titles, with Presley Smith at the center of attention. Smith and Jennie Gai triumphed in mixed doubles, overcoming Brazil’s Davi Silva and Sania Lima. Despite trailing 11-15 in the second game, the American pair surged back with 10 consecutive points to clinch the championship.
In women’s doubles, Lauren Lam and Allison Quynh Lee edged Francesca Corbett and Jennie Gai 21-18, 21-18 in an all-USA final. The men’s doubles title went to Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith, who defeated Kevin Lee and Ty Alexander Lindeman 21-13, 21-8.
“Very tired, but… two years ago I was double champion as well, and this year it just feels good to be back getting the double,” Smith said after his victories.
What the Champions Said:
Lauren Lam: “Definitely nerve-racking. There’s a lot of pressure coming to the finals… but luckily we were able to deal with it and pull through, just focusing one point at a time.”
Allison Lee: “It means literally everything because this is what we trained for… we’re very grateful to have the support around us, and especially each other.”
Jennie Gai: “I was a little bit shaky… but I’m proud of ourselves for how we overcame it and kept going strong despite the nerves.”
The 2026 Pan Am Championships once again showcased the region’s top talent, with established stars and rising champions shining on the continental stage.
