The challenge of overcoming the challenges of injury and the pressure of the ‘World No. 1 title’
[박영실의 이미지 브랜딩]
The actions of Ahn Se-young (23, Samsung Life Insurance), who is going beyond being the star of Korean badminton and rewriting the history of world badminton, are unusual. Beyond simply being a player with good grades, the reason why the energy he exudes is deeply imprinted on the public is because of the extremely pure passion he shows for his work.
The appearance he showed at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals recently held in Hangzhou, China was like that of a craftsman who has completely assimilated into the world of badminton, beyond simply being a player aiming to win.
The astonishing record of 11 wins, the highest winning percentage of 94.8% in men’s and women’s singles history, and the first ever single-season prize money to exceed $1 million are the results of his sweat.
However, from the perspective of an expert, Ahn Se-young’s true self lies in the visual changes and attitude he showed on the court, as well as the sincerity contained therein. Rather than intentionally decorating himself, he focuses solely on victory and efficiency, naturally creating his own unique color.
Appearance
‘One-piece uniform’ is a winning decision: The moment function becomes style
The most impressive change that Ahn Se-young showed in this competition was definitely the introduction of the ‘one-piece uniform’. Due to the nature of the sport, badminton involves repeated violent jumping and sliding, so short-sleeved tops and skirt pants or shorts have traditionally been the standard.
Ahn Se-young has also shown himself as a fighter who quietly walks the court, sticking to this typical style. However, on this Hangzhou court, she appeared wearing an ivory and khaki sleeveless dress and caught the public’s attention.
The slim silhouette dress reveals her dynamic muscle lines without any modification, giving a visually much lighter and airy feeling. The khaki one-piece dress worn in the semifinal match against Akane Yamaguchi was a perfect match for the calm yet heavy performance of the game on the red mat of the court.
On the other hand, the ivory-toned one-piece dress she wore in the final against Wang Zhiyi further highlighted her pure dedication to focus only on the game.
He mentioned several times in interviews that it was “very light,” and the one-piece dress with the top and bottom connected reduced clothing interference even during intense movements, maximizing his mobility throughout the court.
In particular, the sleeveless design expanded the range of motion of the shoulder during powerful smashing movements, both physically and visually, clearly showing off his technical peak. Through changes in attire, he naturally built his own sophisticated identity in the process of choosing the most efficient way to win.
Behavior
The moment when even pain became a performance: A ‘wonderful attitude’ towards pain
In the third set of the final against Wang Zhiyi, the pain in her left thigh that came just as she was about to secure the victory caused Ahn Se-young to limp. However, what the public saw was not an image of giving in to the pain, but an incredible tenacity to accept even the pain as part of the game and win one point until the end.
Immediately after the game ended, even though he was having trouble walking properly due to extreme pain, he approached each of the referees and politely shook their hands. This attitude shows the depth of the character Ahn Se-young. This composure and manner, which only a person who puts everything into the game can have, adds to his natural dignity.
Rather than getting drunk on the joy of victory, he consoled himself for overcoming his limitations and showed courtesy to those who created the game together.
The words, “It hurt every time my feet touched the ground, but I held on until the end” once again confirmed that Ahn Se-young’s attitude toward life lies in her ‘undaunted will’ in the process rather than in the spectacular results.
These actions had a deep emotional impact on fans and elevated him from a player who was simply good at hitting the ball to a person who served as a role model for life.
Communication
How to enjoy the weight of the crown: ‘sincere language’ that makes fans’ hearts beat
Seyoung Ahn’s communication is based on ‘honesty’ and ‘realism’. The way she smiles and jokes about the uniform change by asking, “Do you look a little prettier?” shows a healthy ego that knows how to enjoy the weight of the heavy crown of being number one in the world.
This is a natural friendliness that arises from the process of sharing the satisfaction and joy one currently feels with the public.
At the same time, his goals are always specific and firm. Statements such as “I want to achieve the Super 1000 Slam” and “I want to reach the level of male singles players” represent how high a level he aspires to play badminton.
The way he does not hide his fears and confesses, “I doubted myself, but my faith was stronger,” also makes you feel how intensely he communicates with his inner self while playing the game.
This method of honest communication makes fans more deeply immersed in his narrative and becomes a key driving force that makes them support the human efforts hidden behind the name Ahn Se-young.
The task of securing physical resilience and maintaining calmness to withstand the ‘weight of the crown’
The achievements that Ahn Se-young achieved this season are the best reward that can be obtained when one is madly immersed in one field. The fact that he became the first player in badminton history to exceed $1 million in prize money in a season means that he broke down the boundaries of an unpopular sport and redefined badminton as a ‘star-centered, high-value sport.’
His brand now has irreplaceable value in the sponsorship market and is having a powerful ripple effect throughout the sports industry. However, the task ahead of him is also directly related to badminton, which he loves.
The first is ‘management of the body’s limitations.’ His passionate playing style puts a lot of strain on the body, so wise rest and management are essential for sustainable activity.
The second is ‘maintaining tranquility at the summit.’ Now, in a position where the whole world is in check, the key is how to turn the expectations pouring in from each game into positive energy for one’s own growth.
Ahn Se-young has now become a unique figure who goes beyond simply swinging a racket and is changing the paradigm of the sport of badminton.
Ahn Se-young, who constantly improves herself and never forgets respect even in the midst of pain. The path he silently walks will be remembered as a ‘narrative of true immersion and achievement’ that our era longs for, beyond a simple victory.
Park Young-sil, CEO of Personal Image Branding Lab & PSPA, adjunct professor at the Department of Education at Sookmyung Women’s University, adjunct professor majoring in image coaching at the Graduate School of Education at Myongji University, and author. Photo = Provided by Personal Image Branding Lab & PSPA
Park Young-sil, CEO of Personal Image Branding Lab & PSPA, adjunct professor at the Department of Education at Sookmyung Women’s University, adjunct professor majoring in image coaching at the Graduate School of Education at Myongji University, author of ‘How Successful People Dress’
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