Ahn Se-young Poised for Dominance as Rival Chen Yufei Sits Out World Tour Finals
Ahn Se-young’s chances of claiming victory at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals have dramatically increased with the confirmed absence of her biggest competitor, Chen Yufei.
The 23-year-old South Korean star, already a nine-time champion this season, is now widely expected to achieve an overwhelming win at the year-end tournament, according to a report from Taiwan’s ‘Thai Sounds’ on Thursday. This development comes as a notable boost to her quest to compete for ultimate glory.
Chen Yufei’s inability to participate stems from national quota restrictions,limiting China to two representatives in the women’s singles event. Instead, world number 2 Wang Zhiyi and number 3 Han Yue will compete in her stead.While currently ranked 5th globally, Chen Yufei’s ranking suffered after a period away from the court following her loss to ahn se-young at the 2024 Paris Olympics and a subsequent study abroad program in Australia. Despite a return to competition, she fell just short of qualifying for the prestigious Finals.
This news is particularly welcome for Ahn Se-young, as “Chen Yu-fei is the only player to defeat Ahn se-young twice this season,” as noted by ‘Thai Sounds’. the two have a closely contested head-to-head record of 14 wins apiece, with Ahn Se-young holding a 4-2 advantage this year. Remarkably, Ahn Se-young has only suffered four losses all season, two of which came against her Chinese rival.
In contrast, Wang zhiyi has lost seven consecutive matches to Ahn Se-young, and Han Yue holds a 2-9 record against the Korean sensation. “Ahn Se-young is not a very scary opponent” for either of these players, according to ‘thai Sounds’, who predict an easy path to the title for the dominant Korean.
Ahn Se-young’s remarkable 2025 season has already seen her secure victories at the Malaysia Open, India open, Orleans masters, All England Open, Indonesia Open, Japan Open, China Masters, Denmark Open, and French Open. This ties the record for the most wins by a female player in a single season, previously held by Ahn Se-young herself in 2023. Her success has also translated into financial rewards, becoming the first Korean badminton player to surpass 1 billion won in prize money in a single season, with career earnings exceeding $2.2 million (KRW 3.06 billion).
The 23-year-old has maintained the No. 1 world ranking for 56 consecutive weeks, totaling 118 weeks and even achieved a streak of winning 10 consecutive World Tour competitions, including Super 750 and Super 1000 events. Badminton expert Ben Beckman lauded her achievements, stating, “This is an amazing achievement from an extraordinary player. What’s even more surprising is that Ahn Se-young is only 23 years old.” The BWF itself declared her a “GOAT,” acknowledging her unprecedented success.
With a current season record of 63 wins and 4 losses,representing a 90% win rate,Ahn Se-young is on track to potentially surpass her previous best of 95% if she triumphs at both the Australian Open and the World Tour Finals.A accomplished run through both tournaments would elevate her season record to 73 wins and 4 losses, achieving a remarkable 94.8% win rate. While the World Tour Finals will present a formidable challenge, Ahn Se-young’s current momentum suggests a strong possibility of success.
‘Thai Sounds’ highlighted that Ahn se-young has already amassed over 350 career wins and enjoyed a stellar 2024, claiming gold medals at the World championships, Hangzhou Asian Games, and Paris Olympics. If she secures victories at the australian Open and the year-end finals, she will solidify her position as the women’s singles player with the most wins in a single season.
The news of Chen Yufei’s absence has been met with disappointment in China. ‘Sina Sports’ lamented that “Chen Yufei’s elimination is shocking news,” acknowledging her as the most capable Chinese player but recognizing that her ranking points ultimately proved insufficient for qualification.
