How An Se-young Became the First to 50

An Se-young’s 50th singles title is a record that underscores her unparalleled consistency. While men like Lin Dan (38) and Chen Long (26) have dominated the men’s circuit, no woman had previously reached 50 wins. Her achievement comes after a career spanning over a decade, with titles across every major tournament—from the All England Open to the BWF World Championships.

Key statistic: An Se-young’s 50th title is the 16th of her career at the BWF Indonesia Open, tying her with her own record for most wins at a single event. The margin of victory in Sunday’s final—both games decided by six points—highlighted her ability to close out matches under pressure, a hallmark of her career.

Why This Record Matters: A Legacy Beyond Wins

An Se-young’s milestone isn’t just about the number 50. It reflects a career built on resilience, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. In an era where badminton’s women’s singles field is increasingly dominated by younger players like Tai Tzu-ying and Chen Yufei, her longevity stands as a testament to her skill and mental fortitude.

Context: While men’s badminton has seen players like Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei extend their careers into their late 30s, women’s singles has historically been shorter due to the physical demands of the sport. An Se-young’s ability to sustain elite performance into her mid-30s challenges that narrative.

The Road to 50: An Se-young’s Dominance at the Indonesia Open

An Se-young’s journey to 50 titles wasn’t linear. She first won the Indonesia Open in 2014, a year after her Olympic gold medal in London. Since then, she’s returned to Jakarta nearly every year, often as the top seed. Her semifinal victory over China’s Chen Yufei on Friday—her 49th career title—set the stage for history.

Notable detail: Chen Yufei, the world No. 4, pushed An Se-young to two games in their semifinal clash, the longest match of the tournament. An Se-young’s ability to recover from a 19-21 first-game deficit against Chen in 2020 (when she won the All England Open) foreshadowed her composure in Jakarta.

What Happens Next: An Se-young’s Future and the Women’s Singles Landscape

With 50 titles under her belt, An Se-young shows no signs of slowing down. Her next major target is the BWF World Championships in August, where she’ll aim to add to her two existing gold medals (2015, 2018). However, the rise of younger players like Akane Yamaguchi—her final opponent in Jakarta—means the competition for titles will only intensify.

Upcoming schedule:

• July 10–15: BWF World Tour Finals (Qatar)
• August 10–15: BWF World Championships (India)
• September 2–7: BWF French Open (France)

How to Follow An Se-young’s Journey

For fans looking to track An Se-young’s next moves, the official BWF website and her verified social media accounts are the best sources. The BWF Indonesia Open 2026 final was held at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta, and replays of the match are available on the BWF Indonesia Open YouTube channel.

Note: While the BWF Indonesia Open 2026 is complete, An Se-young’s next confirmed appearance is at the BWF World Tour Finals in Qatar. Tickets for the event are expected to go on sale in early July.