[스포티비뉴스=조영준 기자] Ahn Se-young (20, Samsung Life Insurance, world ranking 4th), a signboard of women’s badminton, brushed off the jinx about ‘natural enemy’ Chen Yupei (China, world ranking 3rd) and climbed to the top of the Malaysian Masters singles.
Se-young Ahn defeated Yufei Chen 2-0 (21-17 21-5) in the women’s singles final of the World Badminton Federation (BWF) Super 500 Series Malaysia Masters held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the 10th.
Yufei Chen is the women’s singles gold medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics last year. Ahn Se-Young lost 0-2 when she met Chen Yu Fei in the quarterfinals at the time. In May, in the first single of the Uber Cup final, the women’s badminton team event, Ahn Se-young faced Chen Yu-fei in the first single ‘Ace Match’.
At that time, Ahn Se-young had a good start by winning the first set. However, she gave up two sets and in the third set that followed, her thigh twitches caught Se-Young Ahn’s ankle. She struggled with Ahn Se-young’s injury, but she was unfortunately defeated by a 1-2.
Before this tournament, Ahn Se-young had lost 7 matches against Chen Yu-fei. In order to take a step forward on the world stage, Chen Yupei was a ‘mountain to climb’. Ahn Se-young, who met Chun Yu-pei in the Malaysian Masters finals, succeeded in lusting with her performance without any gaps.
Ahn Se-young won the Korea Open singles event in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do in April. After failing to reach the top of the podium, he won his second title at the BWF this season.
At the beginning of the first set, Ahn Se-young attacked more aggressively than before. Ahn Se-young, who led 4-0, widened the score to 11-5 with a controlled attack and solid defense.
However, Ahn Se-young made a series of errors from the backhand and allowed an 18-15 chase. Chen Yufei, who was relieved of his body belatedly, managed to score 17-18 even after scoring consecutive goals. In a situation where a tie would be allowed, Ahn Se-young put the brakes on the pursuit of the opponent with a surprise attack.
Se-Young Ahn, who arrived first at the 20-point mark, led the opponent in a long rally fight and won the first set 21-17.
Ahn Se-young’s uptrend continued into the second set. The long diagonal smash as well as a drop shot led to goals, leading the team to 11-2. When Ahn Se-young played a perfect match in offense and defense, Chen Yu-fei was shaken sharply.
In the second set, Chen Yupei made a lot of mistakes and the score gap widened to 4-18. Se-young Ahn, who caught the victory, broke the chain of losing the opponent’s record with two sets.
The Korean delegation participating in this tournament ended with one gold medal in women’s singles attended by Se-Young Ahn and one bronze medal won by Na-Eun Jeong (21, Hwasun-gun Office) and Hye-Jeong Kim (24, Samsung Life Insurance) in women’s doubles.
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