South Korea: An Se Young’s dominance of women’s badminton has reached another remarkable milestone, with the South Korean superstar surpassing 100 consecutive weeks as world No. 1 and moving closer to one of the longest-standing ranking records in the discipline.
The 24-year-old recently added another major title at the China Masters, completing an unprecedented three-peat at the Super 750 tournament and extending what has already become an extraordinary 2026 season.
According to the latest figures, An has now spent 101 consecutive weeks at No. 1 and 163 weeks at the top overall. That leaves her within striking distance of the women’s singles record of 119 consecutive weeks held by China’s Li Xuerui.
An Se Young Crosses 100 Consecutive Weeks as World No. 1
An first reached the top of the world rankings in August 2023. After briefly surrendering the position for two weeks, she returned to No. 1 and has remained there ever since.
Her current streak has now passed the 100-week barrier, moving well beyond Tai Tzu Ying’s 72 consecutive weeks and placing An second on the all-time women’s singles list behind Li Xuerui.
- An Se Young: 101 consecutive weeks at world No. 1
- Li Xuerui: 119 consecutive weeks at world No. 1
- Tai Tzu Ying: 72 consecutive weeks at world No. 1
- An Se Young total weeks at No. 1: 163
If An continues to hold the top position, she could challenge Li’s 119-week mark in early 2027.
An Se Young Reaches Historic 121,287 Ranking Points
An’s dominance is also reflected in her ranking points.
Her total has climbed to 121,287 points, making her the first women’s singles player to move beyond the 120,000-point mark under the current ranking structure.
The BWF world ranking system counts a player’s best 10 tournament results from the previous 52 weeks, and An’s current ranking portfolio is built almost entirely around championship-winning performances.
That consistency has created a substantial gap between An and leading challengers including Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi and China’s Wang Zhi Yi.
An Se Young Wins Third Consecutive China Masters Title
An strengthened her position at the top by winning the 2026 China Masters, becoming the first women’s singles player to capture three consecutive titles at the tournament.
The championship came shortly after she won her second BWF World Championships title in New Delhi.
Even more impressive, An captured both tournaments without dropping a single game.
Across the World Championships and China Masters, opponents were unable to force the Korean star into a deciding game.
An Se Young Owns a 49-1 Record in 2026
An’s season record illustrates just how difficult she has been to beat.
She has collected seven titles in 2026 while compiling a 49-1 win-loss record, giving her a winning percentage of approximately 98 percent.
Her only defeat of the season came earlier in the year, after which she put together another extended winning streak.
- 2026 record: 49 wins, 1 loss
- 2026 titles: 7
- Winning percentage: Approximately 98%
- Recent major titles: BWF World Championships and China Masters
Maintaining that level over a crowded BWF World Tour calendar is what separates An’s current run from an ordinary period of strong form.
Why An Se Young Is So Difficult to Beat
An’s success cannot be reduced to one exceptional weapon.
Her greatest strength is the completeness of her badminton.
She can attack effectively from the rear court, control the net, absorb pressure in long rallies and turn defensive situations into neutral or attacking positions.
She also commits relatively few unforced errors, forcing opponents to repeatedly win points rather than relying on mistakes.
That versatility allows An to alter her approach depending on the opponent.
Against aggressive players, she can slow rallies down and force them into longer exchanges. Against defensive players, she can increase the pace, move forward and control the front court.
An Se Young’s Style Sets Her Apart
Different generations of women’s singles have been defined by different strengths.
Carolina Marin became famous for explosive attacking badminton and relentless intensity, while Akane Yamaguchi built much of her success around exceptional movement, endurance and retrieving ability.
An combines many of those qualities within one balanced game.
She is comfortable defending for extended periods but can suddenly accelerate into attack. She can also change tempo during rallies, making it difficult for opponents to establish a consistent tactical pattern.
That all-court adaptability has become one of the defining features of her dominance.
Olympic Gold and Two World Championships Already Secured
An’s ranking record is accompanied by an increasingly impressive collection of major titles.
She has already won Olympic gold, two World Championships titles, the Asian Games, the All England and the season-ending World Tour Finals.
That gives her victories across virtually every major tournament category available in international badminton.
And at only 24, she potentially has several prime competitive seasons still ahead of her.
Asian Games Title Defense Is Next Major Challenge
An’s attention now turns to the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which begin on September 19.
She enters the tournament as one of the leading favorites in women’s singles after winning gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
A successful title defense would add another major achievement to a career already filled with championship milestones.
But the Asian Games field will once again include many of the strongest players in world badminton, including leading challengers from China, Japan and other Asian nations.
An Se Young Chasing Li Xuerui’s 119-Week Record
Beyond tournament titles, the world ranking record has now become another storyline surrounding An’s career.
Li Xuerui’s mark of 119 consecutive weeks at No. 1 has stood as one of the benchmarks in women’s singles.
With An now beyond 100 consecutive weeks, the gap has narrowed considerably.
Maintaining the position for approximately another four months would put her in position to challenge that record.
Her enormous ranking-points advantage gives her a strong platform, although rankings can change quickly if results, injuries or tournament schedules shift.
An Se Young Building Her Place in Badminton History
Women’s singles has produced numerous great champions across different eras, including Li Lingwei, Susi Susanti, Zhang Ning, Li Xuerui, Carolina Marin and Tai Tzu Ying.
Comparing players from different generations is never straightforward because ranking systems, schedules, competition formats and the depth of the international field change over time.
What is clear is that An is building a record that already places her among the most accomplished players of the modern era.
Winning major titles is one measure of greatness. Remaining world No. 1 for more than 100 consecutive weeks while continuing to win those titles demonstrates something different: sustained dominance.
An Se Young Has Another Historic Record Within Reach
The next several months could add another milestone to An Se Young’s rapidly expanding list of achievements.
She has already passed the 100-week mark as the world’s top-ranked women’s singles player, broken through 120,000 ranking points and produced a 49-1 season while winning seven titles.
Now Li Xuerui’s 119-week record is coming into view.
If An can maintain her remarkable consistency into early 2027, another significant piece of women’s badminton history could belong to the South Korean world No. 1.
