China's Wang Zhiyi made history on Sunday by defeating the Republic of Korea's An Se-young 21-15, 21-19 in a gripping women's singles final at the 2026 All England Open Badminton Championships. The victory ended China's seven-year wait for a title in this prestigious category, last won by compatriot Chen Yufei in 2019.
Wang's triumph over the World No. 1 player shattered An Se-young's 36-match winning streak and marked her first career victory against the reigning Olympic champion after 10 previous defeats. The 24-year-old from the Chinese mainland displayed remarkable composure during the 54-minute match, surviving a late comeback attempt in the second game to secure her 12th career title.
"This feels like a dream come true," Wang told reporters after the match. "An is such a strong opponent – I had to fight for every point. This win gives me confidence to aim for even bigger goals this season."
The victory holds particular significance for Chinese badminton, coming just months before the 2026 Asian Games. Analysts suggest Wang's performance could position her as a leading contender for Olympic qualification ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
