An Se-young Fights Through Injury to Clinch Record-Tying 11th Title at BWF World Tour Finals

A Historic Victory

World No. 1 An Se-young capped a phenomenal season on Sunday, overcoming China's Wang Zhiyi and a painful late-match knee injury to win the BWF World Tour Finals. The victory in Hangzhou, China, marks her 11th international title of the year, tying the all-time record for most wins in a single season set by men's singles great Kento Momota.

The Final Showdown

In a dramatic final at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, An defeated Wang 2-1 with scores of 21-13, 18-21, 21-10. The BWF World Tour Finals is the prestigious season-ending tournament, open only to the top 8 players and pairs from the year's tour.

Fighting Through Pain

The match was a testament to An's resilience. After falling behind 4-8 in the first game, she stormed back to take it 21-13 with her signature blend of superb shotmaking and brilliant defense. Wang leveled the match in the second game as An appeared to fatigue. The deciding third game saw both players visibly exhausted, but An pushed through, even as she began to show clear signs of discomfort in her left knee.

According to the source report, holding a commanding 20-10 lead at match point, An had to take a moment on the sidelines to stretch her leg, limping back onto the court. Essentially playing on one leg, she converted the final point to seal the historic victory.

Season Dominance

This victory concludes a season of utter dominance for the South Korean star. She reached the finals in 12 of the 15 BWF tournaments she entered, winning 11 of them. The victory also improved her head-to-head record against Wang to 16-4, including a perfect 8-0 mark this year alone.

An Se-young's 11th title isn't just a number; it's a statement. By matching a record set by men's legend Kento Momota, she's shattered a performance ceiling, establishing her season as one of the greatest ever, regardless of gender. Winning the final trophy while visibly injured demonstrates the mental toughness that makes her the undisputed world No. 1.

— PRISM Insight