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Ahn se-young: Badminton Star Named Among Defining Sports Figures of 2026
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Ahn Se-young, the dominant force in Korean women’s badminton, has been recognized by singapore’s Straight Times as a key figure poised to shape the global sports landscape in 2026. The newspaper highlighted her unprecedented success in 2025, positioning her not just as an athlete, but as a benchmark for future performance.
The Straight Times‘ special report, released on January 1st, examined emerging trends adn pivotal moments expected to define the sporting world over the next two years, from groundbreaking athletic achievements to controversial experiments in competitive structure. Among these, Ahn Se-young stood out as a symbol of athletic supremacy.
A season of Unprecedented Dominance
The publication described Ahn Se-young’s 2025 season as “not simply a great year, but a season that left competitors completely in the shadows.” This assessment is firmly rooted in her historic achievements, culminating in a victory at the BWF World Tour Finals Women’s Singles on December 21st. This win secured her a record-breaking 11 BWF World Tour titles in a single year – a feat previously unmatched in the sport.
“she is the first player to win 11 world tour competitions in one season,” the Straight Times noted, underscoring the significance of this accomplishment. Beyond the sheer number of victories, Ahn Se-young’s statistical dominance is staggering. In 77 matches played throughout 2025, she suffered only four losses, achieving a remarkable 94.8% win rate. This surpasses the previous single-season record of 92.5% held by badminton legends like Lin Dan and Lee chong-wei. As the publication succinctly put it, she “set a new record for the most wins in a game, and also surpassed legends in terms of winning percentage.”
Financial Success and Competitive Superiority
Ahn Se-young’s impact extends beyond on-court performance. She became the first badminton player to exceed $1 million (approximately KRW 1.45 billion) in prize money within a single season, earning $240,000 for her World Tour Finals triumph. This achievement, according to the Straight Times, “set a new standard in both performance and box office success.”
her dominance was particularly evident in head-to-head matchups. Wang Zhiyi of China,currently ranked second in the world,faced Ahn Se-young eight times in 2025 and lost on every occasion. The Straight Times analysis concluded that “no one came close to Ahn Se-young” throughout the entire season, highlighting a complete lack of competitive parity.
The Challenge of 2026: Can Anyone Reach the Summit?
Looking ahead to 2026, the Straight Times posed a compelling question: “After a season like this, who (or even Ahn Se-young herself) can come close to this achievement
