An Se-young confirms participation at upcoming 2026 China Masters
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Young recently won her second BWF World Championships title
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An Se-young isn’t taking a break. Just days after flying home with a second World Championships title, the reigning world No. 1 has confirmed her participation in the China Masters next week. The Super 750 tournament is scheduled to take place in Shenzhen, China, from September 1 to 6.
Speaking to reporters at Incheon International Airport, An kept her plan simple.
“The China Masters are next week. I plan to prepare well. If my body feels strained, I’ll adjust, but if not, I’ll participate to maintain my match sense. After that, I’ll enter the athletes’ village and prepare for the Asian Games,” she said.
It’s been a big week for her. In New Delhi, An didn’t drop a single game the whole tournament. She beat Han We in the quarter-finals, Wang Zhiyi in the semis and Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in the final. That win brought her back to the top of the world for the first time since 2023.
An Se-young focuses on Asian Games
But even with that title fresh in hand, An Se-young’s mind is already on what’s next. “I would love to win another Asian Games gold medal, but everyone else will want to win it, too,” she said.
“The most important thing is not to feel too much pressure. I know it will take a lot of hard work to get it done, and I will try to play with confidence.”
There’s a nice twist here too. The Asian Games will be held in Japan and that is Yamaguchi’s home turf. And An has now beaten her six times in a row.
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“I think it is a great sign that I have kept on beating her,” An said. “If I approach the Asian Games with confidence, like I have nothing to lose, then I think my opponent will tense up. I want to keep doing what I have been doing all along.”
As for the tough schedule ahead, with several events packed into a short window, An isn’t losing sleep over it.
“The number of matches may increase, but I trust our coaches and directors to adjust team event participation. I’ve always done this before and have experience competing in tournaments for two weeks, so I’m not too worried. Still, I should focus more on mental management.”
For now, the China Masters is just a stop along the way. The bigger goal is still weeks off, and it’s waiting for her in Japan.
Will An Se-young play at the 2026 China Masters?
Yes. She confirmed she plans to compete next week, saying she’ll adjust if her body feels strained but otherwise will play to maintain her match sense before heading into the Asian Games athletes’ village.
What did An Se-young say about her participation at the 2026 China Masters?
“The China Masters are next week. I plan to prepare well. If my body feels strained, I’ll adjust, but if not, I’ll participate to maintain my match sense. After that, I’ll enter the athletes’ village and prepare for the Asian Games,” she told reports after landing in Korea.
Where and when will 2026 China Masters take place?
The BWF Super 750 event will take place at the Shenzhen Arena in Shenzhen from September 16 to 21.
Ajay Gandhar has been part of Khel Now since 2023 and has expertise across a wide range of Olympic sports. While his coverage spans the Olympic spectrum, he is passionate about Badminton, Tennis, Football, and Track and Field. Beyond his primary focus areas, Ajay is also an avid kabaddi enthusiast and closely follows the sport.