An Se-young claimed the badminton women’s singles gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 29, defeating Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in straight sets. The victory marks a historic second Asian Games singles title for the player, who has compiled a dominant 57-1 record and a 98% win rate throughout the 2026 season.
Dominant Finals Victory Over Akane Yamaguchi
Facing world number three Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the final, An Se-young maintained complete control from the opening rally. She managed a comfortable defense against her opponent’s early attacks in the first set before limiting Yamaguchi to just nine points in the second. Despite facing what sources noted as questionable judging calls during the match, An remained composed to secure the 2-0 victory. Throughout the entire Asian Games tournament, An did not drop a single set on her path to the gold medal match.
Record-Breaking Season and Historical Context
The straight-sets triumph cements An’s status in international badminton. Her 2026 campaign features 57 total matches played with only a single defeat, yielding a win rate of approximately 98% as she pursues an overarching goal of an undefeated season. This performance makes An the first player in Asian Games history to secure back-to-back titles in the women’s singles division.
Following the defeat, Yamaguchi offered high praise for the champion.
Future Ambitions and Focus on Growth
Despite securing the historic Asian Games title, An downplayed the significance of milestones, describing the achievement simply as part of a continuous journey.
She added that by continuing to practice and refine her offensive game, she aims to become a more complete player. Looking ahead, An confirmed her motivation remains unchanged, stating that her next target is simply winning whatever tournament comes next.