Only An Se Young — her run of trophies in 2025 notwithstanding — can truly claim to be chasing perfection.

Having stormed into the final of the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2026 with a commanding 21-11 21-7 win over Ratchanok Intanon, the reigning Olympic champion said she is still searching for that perfect game.

“I think the moment when I win 21-0 is the perfect moment, and I want to do that,” An said. “It seems like it’ll take a long time. It might not even happen.”

An’s ability to capitalise on even the slightest mistake from across the net was on full display at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex on Saturday — an area of her game she admits she often visualises the night before a big match.

“When I go to sleep, honestly, I don’t want to think about anything, but I keep thinking about the moments from the game, so I watch the game before I go to sleep, and then I keep thinking about those moments,” An said.

“I think it was good that I kept thinking and contemplating about the ‘ready to play’ moments during the game.”

A gracious Intanon gave an insight on what it’s like being at the other end.

“I tried to find my balance on court today but I can say that I was behind her every step. She knows how to manage it on court and I know that this is still is my weakness. I think she responded by moving a step higher, and she starts to play better than the rest of us, or when I play her, that’s what it feels like sometimes,” she said.

“When I watch her on YouTube against somebody else she plays in a different style but when she plays against me I think she turns to another style again because we are quite different and she tries to push me harder on my weakness.”

An will again meet Wang Zhi Yi in a final, the world No.2 Chinese defeating compatriot and Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei 21-15 23-21 — only her second win in 12 encounters.

→ Results (Day 5)

→ Order of Play (Day 6)