In the top 10 fastest smashes for the 2025 season released by the World Badminton Federation, first and second places in women’s singles were taken by Ratchanok Inthanon, and Ahn Se-young ranked third overall with 357.1 per hour. Ahn Se-young tied the record for the most wins in a single season and exceeded $1 million in prize money, but lost the first place title to Intanon in the smash speed category.
[OSEN=우충원 기자] Ahn Se-young was not the protagonist of the strongest smash in women’s badminton singles. Although it dominated 2025 with an overwhelming performance, a different name came out on top in one indicator: ‘top speed’.
The World Badminton Federation released the top 10 fastest smashes recorded in men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles in the 2025 season through its official SNS on the 25th (Korean time). This is data compiled based on the highest figures measured during one season in each category.
2025 was definitely Ahn Se-young’s year. He competed in 15 international competitions and won 11 times, tying the record for most wins in a single season. The winning rate reached 94.8%, and he became the first singles player to exceed $1 million in season prize money. In terms of performance alone, it was a nearly perfect year.
However, a different conclusion was reached in the Super Smash category. According to data released by BWF, first and second places in women’s singles’ highest smash speed were both Ratchanok Inthanon’s. Inthanon left behind overwhelming figures by recording smashes of 376.3 km/h and 362.8 km/h.
Ahn Se-young’s power was also not far behind. He ranked 3rd overall at 357.1 km/h, and was ranked in the top 10 four times, including 340.8 km (6th), 337.1 km (8th), and 336.0 km (9th). As a single player, he took four positions from 1st to 10th, once again proving his presence as the number one player in the world rankings.
Although smash speed is just a power indicator, it has become clear that Ahn Se-young is at the top in attack power. In addition to the image represented by defense, stamina, and rally ability, the power to launch an explosive attack at a critical moment has also been proven through numbers.
In the doubles category, the names of Korean players were not left out. In men’s doubles, Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho combined for 11 wins, and Seo Seung-jae’s smash recorded 424.9 km/h, ranking 7th overall. It was a scene that showed the power of Korean badminton, regardless of whether it was singles or doubles, and that it was competitive on the world stage.
In the end, the title of first place in fastest speed went to Intanon, but the player who dominated the entire season was still Ahn Se-young. One record cannot explain everything, but the fact that he was named in the top 10 in smash speed four times is sufficient proof of his offensive power. / [email protected]
[사진] BWF Instagram capture.
