BIRMINGHAM – One of the biggest stories in recent badminton news unfolded at the 2026 All England Championships finals as China’s Wang Zhi Yi produced a stunning performance to defeat world No.1 An Se Young and capture the women’s singles title.
The Chinese star won the final 21-15, 21-19, ending An Se Young’s remarkable 37-match winning streak and denying the Korean superstar a successful title defense at the historic All England badminton championships.
An Se Young’s Dominant Run Comes to an End
Coming into the tournament, An Se Young had been nearly unstoppable on the international badminton circuit. Her last defeat dated back to September 28, 2025, and she had since captured seven consecutive titles.
The reigning world No.1 continued her dominant form throughout the week in Birmingham, advancing to the final with impressive victories that made her the favorite to retain the prestigious title.
However, Wang Zhi Yi had other plans.
The Chinese shuttler delivered a composed and tactical performance, controlling key rallies and capitalizing on crucial points to claim her first All England crown.
Wang Zhi Yi Breaks the Head-to-Head Streak
The victory was particularly significant because An Se Young had dominated their recent encounters. The Korean star had won the previous ten meetings against Wang and held an overwhelming 18-4 career head-to-head advantage entering the final.
In last year’s All England tournament, Wang Zhi Yi also reached the final but fell short against An Se Young after a hard-fought three-game match.
This time, the result was different.
Wang displayed patience and sharp shot placement throughout the match, preventing An from controlling the rallies as she normally does. Her ability to remain calm under pressure ultimately proved decisive.
An Se Young Reflects on the Loss
After the match, An Se Young shared her thoughts with fans on social media, acknowledging that it was simply not her day.
“It just wasn’t my day,” she wrote. “I tried to play my best, but my opponent played better today. Congratulations to Wang Zhi Yi on winning her first All England title.”
View this post on Instagram
The Korean star also expressed gratitude to the fans who supported her throughout the week in Birmingham.
“I had a great week here and realized there are still many things I can improve. Thank you to everyone who came to support me. Your encouragement means a lot and gives me more motivation to come back stronger.”
Historic Moment for Wang Zhi Yi
For Wang Zhi Yi, the victory marks one of the biggest achievements of her badminton career. After finishing as runner-up in the previous edition of the tournament, she returned this year determined to go one step further.
Her triumph at the 2026 All England Championships not only delivered her first title at the historic event but also established her as one of the top contenders in women’s singles badminton heading into the rest of the season.
Watch Highlights: An Se Young vs Wang Zhi Yi
With the dramatic final bringing an end to An Se Young’s incredible winning streak, the result adds another memorable chapter to the long history of the All England badminton championships.
