Incheon: An Se-young, the 21-year-old Korean sensation who has registered her name in the history of badminton as she soared to win the gold of the women’s singles World Championships last Sunday in Copenhagen, Denmark. With a triumphant return to Korea on Tuesday, she now sets her sights on the illustrious Grand Slam after securing her world championship victory and seizing the World No. 1 spot in the BWF rankings.
In a press conference held at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the 29th, An Se Young opened up about her accomplishment at the BWF World Championships, stating, “Being the first tournament I participated in after claiming the World No. 1 spot, there was certainly a lot of pressure,” said An.
In the World Championships final, An Se Young clinched the gold medal with a decisive 21-12, 21-10 win over the three-time former world champion, Carolina Marin, in the women’s singles final. This was a monumental feat in the event’s history, which dates back to 1977, marking An Se Young as the first Korean player to conquer the singles domain for either the men or the women category.
Emerging from a previous year’s setback against Akane Yamaguchi of Japan that halted her advance to the finals, An Se Young propelled herself to the pinnacle of this competition in 2023. In doing so, she has surpassed the achievements of Bang Su-hyeon (silver medalist) back in 1993. The victory was also An’s 8th title of the season further cementing her ranking, igniting hopes for her upcoming endeavors at the Asian Games in Hangzhou next month and the Paris Olympics in the coming year.
Reflecting on her journey to championship glory, An Se Young candidly shared, “Every match felt like a pivotal moment. Facing the formidable Chen Yufei in the semifinals, I embraced the challenge with confidence in my gameplay.”
She credited her success to the guidance of her coach, noting, “I followed the coach’s advice to perform with confidence. After the victory, I basked in the enjoyment.”
When discussing her playing style, she declared with pride, “I may not have the strongest smashes, but it’s the way I played the game which gave me the results,” added An.
Looking ahead, An Se Young vocalized her ambitions, asserting, “My next goal is to win the gold medal at the Asian Games. I intend to take one game at a time.”
She also declared her aspiration for the Grand Slam, encompassing the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games, and Asian Championships.
With a keen eye on her opponents, she affirmed, “Now that all players analyze my game and approach, quick adaptation is the key to performance in crucial matches. I’ll prepare rigorously to tackle any changes my opponents may throw my way on the court.”
