Ahn Se-young, the world number one in women's singles badminton, experienced a disappointing defeat in the finals of the All England Open held on March 8, 2026, in Birmingham, England. Competing to defend her title, Ahn faced Chinese player Wang Zhiyi, ranked second in the world, but lost in straight games, 0-2, with scores of 15:21 and 19:21, marking the end of her 36-match winning streak that began in October 2023. This loss was particularly significant as Ahn was aiming to become the first Korean singles player to win the prestigious tournament consecutively.

Historically, Ahn had a favorable record against Wang, having won 18 out of their 22 encounters prior to this match, which included an impressive 11-match winning streak against her. However, in the final, Wang delivered a solid performance, showcasing effective attacking strategies that overwhelmed Ahn, leading to her unexpected defeat. Wang celebrated her first All England title with great emotion, reflecting the intensity of the competition and the high stakes involved.

In the aftermath, Ahn took to social media to express her disappointment, congratulating Wang on her victory while reflecting on the lessons learned from the match. She emphasized her intention to analyze her performance and come back stronger in future competitions. Meanwhile, Korean men's doubles pair Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho secured their second consecutive victory at the All England Open, providing a bright spot for Korea in the tournament.