An Se-young defeated her Japanese opponent 21-23, 21-14, 21-18 in the women's singles final of the Denmark Open in Odense, Denmark, on 18/10. This victory secured the South Korean player's 47th international title, breaking the record of 46 wins previously held by Indonesian legend Susi Susanti.

At 24, An continued to assert her world number one position with a comeback victory over her Japanese opponent, who ranks third globally. She also successfully defended her Denmark Open title, having first won the tournament last year.

An Se-young celebrates her victory over Akane Yamaguchi (Japan) in the women's singles badminton final at ASIAD 2026 in Ichinomiya arena, Aichi province, Japan, on 29/9. *Photo: AFP*

According to the Badminton World Federation (BWF), only individual titles count towards the record, excluding achievements in team events. Titles from regional tournaments are included based on BWF's statistical regulations; the women's singles championship at the most recent Asian Games (ASIAD) helped An Se-young reach 46 titles.

Before An set this record, Susanti held the top spot with 46 career titles. Former Spanish player Carolina Marin, who announced her retirement in March, followed with 39 championships. An now exclusively holds the record for international titles in women's singles.

"I want to create many historical milestones and break more records, but I remain focused on each match. That is my motivation", An stated in an interview with the BWF after the final. "I am happy that people come to watch and enjoy my matches".

The Odense final demonstrated that An had to overcome challenges to claim the historic title. She started well, leading 18-15 in the first game but failed to maintain her advantage against Yamaguchi's fierce attacks. The Japanese player rallied to win 23-21 after a series of contested points.

An continued to struggle in the second game, trailing 11-13 at one point. However, she gradually regained the initiative through her defensive skills and decisive shots. A run of seven consecutive points helped An turn the tide, winning 21-14 and forcing a decisive game.

In the third game, Yamaguchi maintained pressure, leading 12-9. An showed signs of ankle pain, touching the area multiple times, which cast doubt on her ability to continue. Despite this, the world number one player maintained focus, adjusted her movement, and defended persistently against her opponent's attacks.

An then scored seven consecutive points, turning a deficit into a 16-12 lead. Yamaguchi attempted to close the gap but could not prevent her opponent from sealing the game 21-18. This three-game victory completed An's comeback, making history.

An Se-young's record. *Graphics: Xuan Binh (AI support)*

This marked the fifth consecutive time An defeated the Japanese player in a women's singles final, following victories at the Singapore Open, Indonesia Open, World Championships, and ASIAD 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya. Post-match statistics showed An has now beaten Yamaguchi 10 consecutive times.

The Denmark title extended An's successful year. She won the world championship, defended her ASIAD women's singles gold medal, and secured the Asian championship. She also played for the South Korean team that won the Asian Team Championship and the Uber Cup. However, team titles do not count towards her individual record statistics.

In the current BWF World Tour season, An has secured nine titles following the Denmark Open. Her 2026 record stands at 61 wins and one loss, a 98,4% win rate. An's only defeat this year occurred in the All England Open final in March, against Wang Zhiyi of China.

An currently holds a 44-match winning streak. This form positions her to pursue a new record for women's singles titles in a single season. Last year, An won 11 championships, equaling the achievement of former men's singles world number one Kento Momota in the 2019 season, when considering titles across both men's and women's singles in a season.

Following the Denmark Open, An is scheduled to compete in the French Open, which begins on 20/10. This tournament in France presents an opportunity for her to approach the milestone of 11 titles in a season, potentially even surpassing her own record from last year.

An Se-young, born on 5/2/2002 in Gwangju, South Korea, is the world number one women's singles badminton player. She won a gold medal at the Olympic Paris 2024, two world championships in 2023 and 2026, and women's singles gold medals at ASIAD 2022 and 2026. She once garnered attention for stating that senior players made her do laundry and cleaning when she joined the South Korean national team.

Xuan Binh