A ‘98.4% win rate’ so unbelievable you’d be criticized for putting it in a comic... An Se-young battles through injury to claim her 10th title of the season
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- 2026-10-18 22:57:59
- Updated
- 2026-10-18 22:57:59
[Financial News] The “Queen of Badminton,” An Se-young (Samsung Life Insurance), successfully defended her Denmark Open title and claimed her 10th gold medal of the year.
World No. 1 An Se-young defeated world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 2-1 (21-23, 21-14, 21-18) after a 1-hour-and-19-minute battle to win the women’s singles final at the 2026 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 750 Denmark Open in Odense, Denmark, on the 18th (local time).
■ A dramatic comeback powered by her fighting spirit through injury
An Se-young got off to a shaky start, losing the first game 21-23 after a tense deuce battle. But while trailing 11-13 in the second game, she showed great focus, scoring seven points in a row to level the match with a 21-14 win.
The deciding third game was a real-life drama. Early on, An Se-young slipped with her right foot on the slick court and reported pain, falling behind 3-9 and facing a crisis. But trailing 9-12, she showed tremendous resolve to score seven consecutive points and turn the match around in an instant, taking a 16-12 lead. She held on against a tiring Yamaguchi to close out the match 21-18. As the win was confirmed, An Se-young raised both arms high and roared.
■ 98.4% win rate, 10 straight wins over Yamaguchi... An Se-young proves she is “the world’s best”
With this victory, An Se-young became the first South Korean player to win back-to-back Denmark Open titles. She has lifted 10 trophies this season alone, including the Asian Games, and has maintained a remarkable 98.4% win rate, with 61 wins and one loss in the 62 matches she has played this year. She is riding a formidable 44-match winning streak.
She has also won 10 consecutive head-to-head matches against Yamaguchi, long considered her biggest rival, extending her overall record to 24 wins and 15 losses. It also marks her fourth consecutive tournament title, following the World Championships, China Masters and Asian Games.
After proving her mettle as “the world’s best” in Denmark, An Se-young will head straight to Paris, France, to compete in the French Open (Super 750), which opens on the 20th, and pursue another consecutive title.
[email protected] Park Ji-hyun Reporter