South Korean shuttlers made a triumphant return home from their successful world championships on Tuesday, fresh off performances that set them up well for the upcoming Asian Games at home.

At the Badminton World Federation World Championships, which concluded last weekend in Copenhagen, Denmark, the South Koreans claimed the gold and silver in the men’s doubles and also shared the bronze with a Denmark pair.

In the final, the 10th-ranked Ko Sung-hyun and Shin Baek-cheol stunned the world No. 1 and fellow Koreans Lee Yong-dae and Yoo Yeon-seong 2-1 (22-20, 21-13, 21-18) to become the first South Korean men’s doubles champs since 1999.

Kim Gi-jung and Kim Sa-rang, currently ranked sixth, took the bronze, giving South Korea its first 1-2-3 finish in any single event in the world championships’ 37-year history. With this year’s Asian Games set to open in Incheon later this month, these duos couldn’t have asked for better preparation. South Korea hasn’t won an Asiad gold in the men’s doubles since 2002.

Speaking to reporters at Incheon International Airport, Ko and Shin said they were honored to end the country’s world championships drought.

“I don’t know the last time we defeated a Korean opponent,” said Shin, who won the mixed doubles gold at the 2010 Asiad. “It makes it extra sweet that we beat (fellow South Koreans) on such a big stage.”

Ko and Shin are actually the lowest-ranked tandem of the three.

Since the Asiad only permits countries to field two doubles teams each, Ko and Shin will be the odd men out in the men’s doubles.

They’re only eligible for the team competition.

“We may not play in the doubles, but I know we’ll get our chance to shine at the team event,” Ko said. “Even if we don’t get to play in the doubles, we will try to cheer on the other guys.”

Lee Yong-dae and Yoo Yeon-seong rose to the No. 1 ranking last month on the strength of their three consecutive titles at the BWF Super Series this year.

The worlds have proven elusive for Lee. He won the Olympic mixed doubles title in 2008 and then followed it up with a men’s doubles bronze in 2012, but has yet to win a gold at the world championships. (Yonhap)