South Korean superstar An Se Young continued her remarkable run against PV Sindhu, defeating the Indian shuttler in straight games at the Indonesia Open 2026 and extending one of the most dominant head-to-head streaks currently seen in women’s badminton.
In a contest that featured moments of high-quality shot-making and intense rallies, the world number one proved too consistent and composed for Sindhu, securing a 21-17, 21-15 victory in Jakarta. The win marked An Se Young’s 10th consecutive triumph over the Indian Olympic medallist, further underlining the Korean’s status as the player to beat on the women’s circuit.
For Sindhu, the defeat was another reminder of the challenge posed by An Se Young, who has emerged as one of the most complete players in modern badminton. While the Indian produced several encouraging passages of play and fought hard throughout the match, she was unable to consistently break down her opponent’s exceptional defence and relentless court coverage.
The encounter began with both players looking sharp as they traded points in the early stages of the opening game. Sindhu attempted to impose herself with aggressive attacking strokes and powerful smashes, while An relied on her trademark movement and precision to keep rallies alive.
As the game progressed, the Korean gradually began to establish control. Her ability to retrieve seemingly impossible shots frustrated Sindhu and forced the Indian into taking greater risks. Although Sindhu stayed within touching distance for much of the opener, An Se Young elevated her level at crucial moments to close out the first game 21-17.
The opening game highlighted the fine margins separating the two players. Sindhu created opportunities and produced several winners, but An’s consistency allowed her to capitalize whenever the Indian’s accuracy dipped.
The second game followed a similar pattern, though An Se Young quickly gained momentum and built an early advantage. Her movement around the court remained exceptional as she repeatedly turned defence into attack, forcing Sindhu to cover every corner of the court.
The Korean established a commanding lead midway through the game and rarely looked troubled thereafter. While Sindhu continued to fight and produced some trademark winners, including several powerful smashes that drew applause from the crowd, An remained firmly in control.
One of the defining features of the match was the Korean’s ability to dominate the longer rallies. Time and again, she absorbed Sindhu’s attacks before finding angles that pushed the Indian out of position. Her patience and tactical awareness allowed her to dictate the tempo of key exchanges. Despite trailing, Sindhu refused to surrender. The former world champion showed her fighting spirit by stringing together points and attempting to mount a comeback. However, every time she threatened to close the gap, An responded with calmness and precision.
The South Korean eventually wrapped up the second game 21-15 to complete another straight-games victory and advance comfortably to the next round.
The result continues an extraordinary period of dominance for An Se Young, who has established herself as the leading figure in women’s badminton. Since capturing major titles including the World Championships, Asian Games gold medal and Olympic success, the Korean has consistently maintained her place at the top of the rankings through a combination of fitness, tactical intelligence and mental strength.
Her victory over Sindhu also extends a head-to-head rivalry that has increasingly tilted in her favour. While Sindhu enjoyed success against the Korean earlier in their careers, recent meetings have been dominated by An, whose all-around game has continued to evolve.
For Sindhu, there were still positives to take away despite the loss. The Indian showed improved movement and attacking intent during phases of the match and demonstrated her willingness to challenge one of the world’s best players. At 30 years old, the two-time Olympic medallist remains one of India’s most accomplished athletes and continues to search for consistency as she builds toward future major tournaments.
The Indonesia Open, one of the most prestigious events on the BWF World Tour calendar, regularly attracts the strongest players in the sport. Held in Jakarta, the Super 1000 tournament is often regarded as one of the toughest stops on the international circuit due to the quality of competition and passionate local support.
An Se Young’s latest victory further strengthens her credentials as a title contender this week. The Korean has looked composed throughout the season and continues to produce the kind of performances that have made her the benchmark in women’s singles badminton. As for Sindhu, the focus now shifts to the upcoming tournaments on the international calendar. While the result will be disappointing, the Indian star will aim to learn from another encounter against the world’s top-ranked player and continue working toward regaining her best form.
For now, however, the spotlight belongs to An Se Young. Clinical, composed and relentlessly consistent, the Korean once again demonstrated why she remains the dominant force in women’s badminton, adding another chapter to her impressive winning streak against one of the sport’s biggest names.
