Paris Olympic gold medalist and current world No. 1, An Se-Young, who enters the BWF World Championships 2026 as the top seed, looks to battle through pain as she chases her second World Championships title after her maiden title win in the tournament way back in 2023.
The South Korean shuttler left for New Delhi on Friday, August 14, to prepare for the upcoming BWF World Championships 2026. The 24-year-old had tasted success in the same tournament three years earlier, in 2026 when she had defeated former international badminton star Carolina Marin.
Long Road Of Recovery From Japan Open
Interestingly, An Se-Young is competing in her first BWF competition since she withdrew from the second round of the Japan Open on July 15 due to a left foot injury.
Speaking to a select media in the mixed zone of the BWF World Championships 2026, the Korean shuttler said (while her knee remained heavily strapped), “I am focusing on my preparations, recovery, and getting into good shape. It’s not perfect yet, but I’m getting better. The injury is not getting better, but I am shaping up. I took some rest in Korea, and here I am at the BWF World Championship, trying to get my rhythm back and get back into shape.”
Remarkable 2025 Season For An Se Young
An enjoyed a remarkable 2025 season, recording the highest winning percentage among singles players while earning the most prize money and sharing the record for the most international titles in a year with 11.
She has carried that momentum into 2026, claiming five titles and finishing runner-up once in her first six BWF World Tour appearances.
Japan’s world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi, the defending champion and a three-time winner of the event, has historically held the advantage over An in their head-to-head record. However, the Korean has turned the tide, winning their last five encounters.
An has also dominated her recent meetings with Chen, the 2025 World Championships runner-up, beating her in four consecutive matches. Against China’s world No. 3 Wang Zhiyi, An has won 12 of their last 13 clashes since January 2025.
Following the World Championships, An will turn her attention to the Asian Games in Japan in September, where she will seek to retain the gold medal she won at the previous edition. With most of her strongest challengers coming from Asia, the Korean expects the title defence to be a major challenge.