Ahn Se-young (Korea) is hitting a return shot against Wang Zhiyi (China) in the women’s singles final of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China on the 21st. Xinhua News = Yonhap News
Ahn Se-young stood on the court wearing a one-piece uniform for the first time since her career. The stage was the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals, the final match of the season.
Ahn Se-young wore a sleeveless one-piece uniform in all games of this tournament held in Hangzhou, China from the 17th to the 21st. The uniforms were alternately worn in ivory and khaki colors, and had a length design that reached just above the knees. This is the first time that he has chosen a dress, having stuck to short-sleeved tops and skirt pants.
There was also a change in athletic performance. Due to the nature of the uniform, where the top and bottom are connected, there was less chance of clothes getting caught or becoming disheveled even during intense movements, and it was evaluated that Ahn Se-young’s unique mobility throughout the court was further enhanced.
After finishing the semifinals, Ahn Se-young said, “I wanted to make a change,” and “I tried it on and it was definitely lighter and more comfortable.” He also showed the composure to ask, “Does it suit you well?”
Ahn Se-young (Korea) poses at the awards ceremony after finishing the women’s singles final of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals 2025 held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China on the 21st. Shinhwa = Yonhap News
For a long time, the standard attire for female badminton players was short-sleeved tops and skirt pants or shorts. In 2011, the BWF pushed for mandatory wearing of skirts, but withdrew due to resistance from players. After this, attire became a practice based on autonomy. Recently, as choices focusing on functionality and individuality have increased, the number of athletes wearing dresses or leggings is gradually increasing.
However, it is rare for the world’s No. 1 player to choose to wear a one-piece dress in all of the final matches of the season. India’s Pusala Sindhu received attention for wearing a one-piece dress at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but Ahn Se-young’s choice is said to be more symbolic.
By winning this tournament, Ahn Se-young achieved 11 wins in the season, tying the record for the most wins in a single season, and also recorded the highest winning percentage (94.8%) ever among men’s and women’s singles players. The season ended splendidly with performance, records, and even a change in outfit.
Attention is focused on how the changes chosen by the absolute powerhouse on the court will affect the badminton uniform trend.
