Li Yu-Jhun (Photo WTT)
Laying claim to a Women’s Singles title for the first time in her international career, Taiwanese Li Yu-Jhun has emerged from WTT Feeder Istanbul 2026 with champion status, beating Korean Park Gah-yeon 12-10, 9-11, 11-9, 11-2 to the honours.
Yu-Jhun, whose last appearance in a WTT final came two years back at WTT Feeder Otocec 2024, was looking to make amends after losing out in that title match in Slovenia. But her week in Istanbul was anything but easy.
Taken the full distance in the Round of 32, and then again one round later, the 28-year-old was fortunate to still be in contention a couple of days into the main draw. But things changed from the quarterfinals onwards.
Overturning an early setback against qualifier Taneesha Kotecha 7-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-2) a ruthless display in the semifinals saw Yu-Jhun put the fierce challenge of Xiaona Shan to the sword winning 12-10, 11-8, 11-3. Then, when it mattered most, Yu-Jhun delivered under the cosh, leaning on all her experience to fend off rising star Gah-yeon to finally realise her dream of becoming a title winner on the world stage.
The Taiwanese, however was denied a double at the championships. India’s Sutirtha Mukherjee-Ayhika Mukherjee defeated Yu-Jhun and her partner Chien Tung-Chuan 11-8, 12-10, 3-11, 12-10 for the women’s doubles title.
Meanwhile, the men’s singles title went to a blast from the past, with Japan’s Maharu Yoshimura picking up his first winner’s trophy since WTT Feeder Havirov 2024.
Yoshimura, who reached the starry heights of World No.15 in his heyday, was a class above the rest all week in Istanbul, and he finished the job in style, putting three games past Croatian Andrej Gacina 11-9, 11-9, 11-2 to make his long-awaited return to the winner’s circle.
This is just the latest impressive effort on Yoshimura’s comeback trail, with the Japanese player also turning heads with his run to the Men’s Singles final at WTT Contender Taiyuan 2026. The 32-year-old is beginning to make waves again.
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s Singles: Maharu Yoshimura (Jpn) bt Andrej Gacina (Cro) 11-9, 11-9, 11-2
Men’s Doubles: Yoshiyama Ryoichi-Hamada Kazuki (Jpn) bt Grebnev Maksim-Artemenko Nikita (Rus) 11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8
Women’s Singles: Li Yu-Jhun (Tpe) bt Park Gahyeon (Kor) 12-10, 9-11, 11-9, 11-2
Women’s Doubles: Sutirtha Mukherjee-Ayhika Mukherjee (Ind) bt Chien Tung-Chuan-Li Yu-Jhuun (Tpe) 11-8, 12-10, 3-11, 12-10
Mixed Doubles Yiu Kwan To-Ng Wing Lam (Hkg) bt : Choi Ji-wook-Kim Eun-soo (Kor) 7-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8
