An Seyoung Advances Directly to Final After Rival Chen Yufei Withdraws

Showdown with World No. 2 Wang Zhiyi in the Final
Men's and Women's Doubles Teams Also Advance to the Finals

World No. 1 in women's singles badminton, An Seyoung (SAMSUNG Life Insurance), secured a ticket to the finals of the Malaysia Open on January 10 after her formidable rival, Chen Yufei (China, ranked 4th), withdrew from the match.

According to the Badminton World Federation (BWF), An Seyoung was scheduled to face Chen Yufei in the semifinals of the BWF World Tour Super 100 Malaysia Open held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on this day. However, Chen Yufei withdrew due to injury.

The highly anticipated showdown between the two players, who were tied at 14 wins and 14 losses in their head-to-head record, was called off. For An Seyoung, this meant she avoided her most challenging opponent ahead of the finals.

Chen Yufei has been a tough adversary, having blocked An Seyoung's bid for back-to-back championships by defeating her in the semifinals of last year's World Championships.

Yonhap News Agency

An Seyoung will face Wang Zhiyi (China, ranked 2nd) in the final. An Seyoung holds a dominant record against Wang Zhiyi, with 16 wins and 4 losses overall, including victories in all eight of their encounters last year.

If An Seyoung wins the final against Wang Zhiyi, she will achieve her third consecutive Malaysia Open title, following her victories in 2024 and 2025.

Last year, An Seyoung set remarkable records, including the most wins in a single season (11), the highest winning percentage in history (94.8%), and the highest cumulative prize money ever ($1,003,175). She is determined to establish her dominance again this year, starting with this tournament.

Seo Seungjae and Kim Wonho (both SAMSUNG Life Insurance), the world No. 1 men's doubles pair who also set the record for most wins in a single season last year with 11 victories alongside An Seyoung, have also advanced to the finals.

The "invincible duo" of Kim Wonho and Seo Seungjae, the world No. 1 men's doubles team (both SAMSUNG Life Insurance), pulled off a come-from-behind 2-1 victory (8-21, 21-11, 21-18) over Ben Lane and Sean Vendy (ranked 16th, United Kingdom) in the semifinals.

The women's doubles pair Baek Hana and Lee Sohee (both Incheon International Airport), ranked No. 6 in the world, also reached the finals by defeating Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto, ranked No. 5, with a 2-0 victory in the semifinals. Baek Hana and Lee Sohee, who achieved back-to-back titles at last month's World Tour Finals, have carried their momentum into this tournament as well.