An Se-young maintained her world No. 1 ranking for 104 weeks, holding an 18,298-point lead in the latest Badminton World Federation standings released on October 6. She solidified her top position following a dominant run at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where she captured the women’s singles gold medal without dropping a single game.
An Sets New Women's Singles Points Record
The latest rankings reflect points gathered through the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where An added 1,000 points to push her total to 122,287 points, according to sportschosun.com. That total eclipses the previous record for the highest points in women’s singles history she established after winning the World Championships in August. Meanwhile, Wang Zhiyi climbed to world No. 2 with 103,989 points, leaving a 18,298-point chasm between the top two spots in international women’s singles badminton.
Beyond the official BWF points ladder, An continues to draw heavy global attention. Badminton Ranks data cited by sportschosun.com shows she topped the trending players list for the 11th straight week with 2,658 search heat points, leading Lin Dan. In the platform’s GOAT rankings, she sits second with 809 points, trailing Tai Tzu-ying’s 831 points.
Asian Games Undefeated Gold Run
An’s path to the top of the podium in Aichi-Nagoya showcased efficiency. She swept through the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final against the world’s No. 5, No. 4, and No. 3 players consecutively, finishing every match in straight games. Her average court time per match clocked in at 36 minutes, while conceding an average of just 8.9 points per match.
That performance secured the first-ever undefeated women’s singles gold medal in Asian Games history. It marks her second consecutive singles gold at the continental games, adding to a 2026 campaign that features eight total titles, a 98.2% win rate, and a recent 40-match winning streak that accounts for 56 wins against just one loss.
Unrelenting Pursuit of Perfection
Despite adding another major title to her resume, An rated her Asian Games performance at just 90 points. She explained to sportschosun.com that she still views herself as a challenger entering every tournament. When discussing her tactical development, she remarked that she believes her attacking abilities have only reached about half the level of Chen Yufei, praising Chen’s precise line-hitting under pressure.
Her ambitions extend to near-impossible standards, including a pursuit of an entirely undefeated season before picking up her lone loss. Reflecting on her growth, she noted that dropping a single game to Yamaguchi during the team event provided valuable lessons that fueled her subsequent dominance in individual play.
An Carries Ranking Lead into BWF World Tour
An will carry her 104-week reign and ranking lead into the remainder of the BWF World Tour calendar.
