Birmingham, England – The seemingly unstoppable reign of An Se-young came to an end Friday at the All England Open Badminton Championships 2026, halting a remarkable winning streak that had captivated the badminton world. The world number one suffered a straight-sets defeat to Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani in the quarterfinals at Utilita Arena Birmingham, bringing to a close a run of 35 consecutive victories.
The loss marks the first defeat for An Se-young since October 2025, ending what had turn into a dominant stretch in the sport. Her 35-match winning streak is believed to be the longest in badminton history, surpassing previous records and establishing her as a force to be reckoned with. The defeat in Birmingham, but, demonstrates that even the most formidable athletes are vulnerable.
Kusuma Wardani, the sixth-seeded Indonesian, proved to be a challenging opponent for An Se-young. The match unfolded with scores of 11-21 and 14-21, according to reports from Lini Indonesia and Kompas.com. While Kusuma Wardani position up a fight early in the first game, maintaining a close score of 6-5, An Se-young quickly took control, reeling off 11 consecutive points to establish a significant lead.
Dominance Cut Short: An Se-young’s Run Comes to an End
The second game followed a similar pattern, with An Se-young asserting her dominance from the outset, building an early 8-2 advantage. Despite her best efforts, Putri Kusuma Wardani was unable to overcome the Korean’s consistent play and powerful attacks. The match concluded after 39 minutes, with An Se-young falling short of continuing her historic run.
Prior to facing Kusuma Wardani, An Se-young had secured a comfortable victory over Lin Xiang-ti, winning in straight sets, as reported by Suara Merdeka. That win propelled her into the quarterfinal clash with the Indonesian, a match that ultimately proved to be her undoing.
“Still a lot of shortcomings that need to be fixed if I want to compete against the top four as, in my opinion, what I still can’t overcome is them in the top four,” Kusuma Wardani said after the match, as reported by VIVA.co.id. She acknowledged the difficulty in breaking through the defenses of the world’s elite players.
What’s Next for An Se-young and Kusuma Wardani?
While this defeat ends An Se-young’s incredible winning streak, it doesn’t diminish her status as one of the top players in the world. She remains the reigning Olympic champion, having secured gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and will undoubtedly be a strong contender in future tournaments. The loss will serve as a valuable learning experience as she looks to refine her game and maintain her position at the pinnacle of the sport.
For Putri Kusuma Wardani, this victory represents a significant milestone in her career. She will now advance to the semifinals of the All England Open, where she will face a new challenge. The win over An Se-young demonstrates her potential to compete with the particularly best and will undoubtedly boost her confidence as she continues her journey in the tournament.
The All England Open continues with the semifinals and finals this weekend, promising more exciting badminton action. Fans will be watching closely to see how both An Se-young and Putri Kusuma Wardani perform in their upcoming matches, and to witness the next chapter in this captivating sport.
What do you think will be An Se-young’s strategy to bounce back from this defeat? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
