Chinese media stunned as An Se-young ‘destroys’ Wang Zhiyi for second time in a week

The 2026 India Open final followed a familiar, bitter script for Chinese fans. World No. 1 An Se-young once again overwhelmed China’s top player, Wang Zhiyi, in a swift victory that mirrored the events in Kuala Lumpur just 1 week prior. 

In the final match held on January 18, the anticipated battle between the 2 best players turned into a one-sided masterclass. An Se-young required less than an hour to dismantle Wang with a score of 21-13 and 21-11. 

Despite being a prestigious Super 750 event, the match lacked the usual competitive tension as An controlled the tempo from start to finish. Her flawless defensive walls and sharp counter-attacks left Wang with no solutions, ending the contest in just 43 minutes.

This result further skews the head-to-head statistics between these 2 rivals. Following this victory, An has extended her record against Wang to 18 wins and only 4 losses. More impressively, this marks An's 11th consecutive victory over Wang in BWF finals. Since Wang’s lone final victory at the 2024 Denmark Open, she has been unable to find a way past the South Korean "war machine" in championship matches.

Looking at the broader tactical landscape, An Se-young’s dominance extends to the entire Chinese national team. She is currently on a 12-match winning streak against Chinese opponents in BWF finals. 

Throughout her career, she has defeated various top-tier Chinese stars, including Chen Yufei, He Bingjiao, Gao Fangjie, and Li Xuerui. In total, An has triumphed in 21 finals against players from mainland China, including 19 BWF titles, the Paris 2026 Olympic gold, and the Hangzhou Asian Games gold.

The Chinese media has reacted with a mix of shock and admiration, frequently using the term "An-phobia" to describe the psychological burden their players face. While China has made strides in other sports, they admit that in women’s singles badminton, An Se-young remains an insurmountable peak. They questioned who could possibly end her reign as she continues to neutralize their best strategic efforts.

As of early 2026, An Se-young’s form is nothing short of historic. After securing titles at both the Malaysia Open and India Open, she remains undefeated this season. Aiming for a "Perfect Season" with a 100% win rate, she is well on her way to surpassing her own 2025 records, which included 11 titles and a 94.8% winning percentage.