South Korea’s badminton queen An Se-young picked up right where she left off, launching her 2026 season in emphatic fashion by clinching the PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2026 title on January 11.
Playing at the iconic Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, the world No. 1 proved her class once again as she defeated China’s second-ranked Wang Zhiyi 21-15, 24-22 in the women’s singles final to secure her third consecutive Malaysia Open crown at the BWF Super 1000 tournament.
The 23-year-old showcased her trademark composure and tactical sharpness, particularly in a tense second game, to extend her remarkable dominance over Wang. An has now won all eight of their meetings in 2025, with their most recent clash coming in the final of the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou last December.
An’s path to the title was further eased after she received a bye into the final when China’s former Olympic champion Chen Yufei withdrew from the semi-finals due to injury on January 10.
Fresh off a sensational 2025 season, where she amassed a record 11 titles, An’s latest triumph underlines her status as the undisputed force in women’s singles badminton heading into the new year.
With her consistency, mental strength and growing aura on the world stage, An Se-young continues to set the benchmark — and if the Malaysia Open is any indication, the rest of the field will once again be chasing her shadow in 2026.
