Wang Zhiyi Ends An Se-young’s Reign at All England Open

BIRMINGHAM, England – In a stunning upset at the Utilita Arena Birmingham on Sunday, China’s Wang Zhiyi defeated defending champion An Se-young of South Korea to claim the women’s singles title at the Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships. The victory marked Wang’s first All England crown and brought an complete to An’s impressive 36-match winning streak, a run that had captivated the badminton world.

A Fresh Champion Emerges

Wang Zhiyi secured the win with a commanding performance, defeating An Se-young 21-15, 21-19 in a 59-minute match. The result not only handed Wang her first women’s singles title of the season but as well snapped An’s decade-long dominance over her, ending a 10-match losing streak in their 23 career meetings. The All England Open, first held in 1899, remains the most prestigious tournament in the sport, and Wang’s victory solidifies her position among the elite.

The match showcased Wang’s improved patience and ability to sustain long rallies, a key factor in overcoming the world No. 1. “The key to today’s victory was my mindset against my opponent,” Wang said, according to Xinhua. “In previous matches, I couldn’t sustain rallies for that long, but today I managed to do it and my opponent made some mistakes.” This tactical adjustment proved crucial, as An struggled to maintain her usual accuracy and appeared fatigued in the second game.

End of an Era for An Se-young

An Se-young’s defeat brings an end to a remarkable run of form. Prior to Sunday’s final, the South Korean star had been on a 36-match winning streak, dating back to a loss to Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the Korea Open last September. She had been aiming for her third singles title of the season and a historic back-to-back All England Open title, which would have been the first for a Korean player.

Last year was a record-breaking season for An, as she secured 11 titles, tying the record for the most in a single season. She began 2026 strongly, sweeping both the Malaysia Open and India Open, and leading the Korean women’s team to victory at the Badminton Asia Team Championships. However, against Wang, her smash accuracy faltered, and she couldn’t overcome the Chinese player’s relentless defense.

Other Results from the All England Open

The All England Open saw several other notable results. In the men’s singles final, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-yi defeated India’s Lakshya Sen 21-15, 22-20 to claim his first BWF World Tour Super 1000 title. Lin extended his winning streak against Sen to five matches.

China also dominated the doubles events. Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning defeated South Korea’s Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee 21-18, 21-12 to win the women’s doubles title, completing a career sweep of all Super 1000 tournaments. Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae of South Korea successfully defended their men’s doubles crown, overcoming Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 18-21, 21-12, 21-19. Finally, Chinese Taipei’s Ye Hong-wei and Nicole Gonzales Chan secured the mixed doubles title, defeating France’s Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue 21-19, 21-18.

An Se-young celebrates after defeating China’s Wang Zhiyi during their women’s singles final match at the BWF Badminton World Tour Finals at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center gymnasium in Hangzhou in eastern China’s Zhejiang province on Dec. 21, 2025. [AFP/YONHAP]

What’s Next?

For Wang Zhiyi, this victory represents a significant milestone in her career and positions her as a major contender on the BWF World Tour. An Se-young will undoubtedly be looking to regroup and return to her winning ways in upcoming tournaments. The badminton calendar continues with several Super 500 and Super 750 events in the coming months, offering both players opportunities to build momentum and prepare for the major championships later in the year. Fans can follow updates on the Badminton World Federation website: https://bwfbadminton.com/

The All England Open, a tournament steeped in history and tradition, once again delivered a thrilling spectacle for badminton enthusiasts worldwide. The emergence of new champions like Wang Zhiyi signals an exciting future for the sport, and the rivalry between Wang and An Se-young promises to be one to watch in the years to arrive.

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