Korean badminton star An Se-young secured her second career world title in the women’s singles in New Delhi, defeating second-ranked Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 21-17, 21-14 to cap a flawless, six-match run without dropping a game, according to tournament reports. Freshly crowned as world champion, the world No. 1 returned home to Incheon International Airport to turn her immediate focus toward defending her Asian Games title next month in Japan.
Return from Injury and Path to the World Title
The tournament in New Delhi marked An’s first competitive appearance since a left foot injury forced her to withdraw from the Japan Open in July after playing just one match. Reflecting on her return at Incheon International Airport, An admitted she felt nervous coming back from the layoff.
“I was quite nervous because this was my first competition back from the injury and I only tried to focus on getting my feel back on the court,” An told reporters. “I did not have high expectations for myself, and I was surprised to be able to bring home such a great result.”
An acknowledged that she was not completely pain-free throughout the week. Lingering physical discomfort caused some early hesitation, but her condition improved as she advanced through the draw and adapted to high-level competition.
Shifting Rivalries and Psychological Edge
With her straight-game victory in the final, An extended her winning streak against Yamaguchi to six matches. While the Japanese veteran historically held the advantage in their head-to-head encounters, the dynamic shifted decisively after the Korean player claimed the world No. 1 ranking in August 2023.
Following her defeat in the New Delhi semifinals, Chinese player Wang Zhiyi playfully questioned the world champion, asking, “How do I beat you?” According to An, the growing gap between herself and her top-tier rivals stems largely from self-belief.
“I have a great deal of trust in myself and in the work I have put in,” An said regarding her mental approach. “And the biggest key is to play with confidence so that my conviction translates into my performance on the court.”
Focus Shifts to the Asian Games in Japan
Looking ahead, An turns her preparation toward the upcoming Asian Games scheduled for next month in Japan.
“I think it is a great sign that I have kept on beating her,” An noted of her record against Yamaguchi. “If I approach the Asian Games with confidence, like I have nothing to lose, then I think my opponent will tense up. I want to keep doing what I have been doing all along.”
The Asian Games field will feature familiar top-tier opponents from across Asia, including Wang Zhiyi and Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand—who joined An and Yamaguchi as semifinalists in New Delhi—alongside reigning Asian Games silver medalist Chen Yufei of China. Despite the high-caliber competition, An emphasized that managing pressure remains her primary objective.
“I would love to win another Asian Games gold medal, but everyone else will want to win it, too,” An said. “The most important thing is not to feel too much pressure. I know it will take a lot of hard work to get it done, and I will try to play with confidence.”
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