Following a dominant performance at the world championships in New Delhi, South Korea’s national badminton team faces a psychological hurdle that could dictate their success at the upcoming Asian Games: managing intense national expectations. According to reports from Incheon International Airport, head coach Park Joo-bong and world-class players like An Se-young have warned that public pressure and an expanded tournament schedule will pose unique challenges in Japan next month.
South Korea Tops the World Championships in New Delhi
The South Korean squad returned home through Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 25th after finishing first overall at the 2026 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships in New Delhi, India. The team captured two gold medals and one bronze, cementing their status as a global powerhouse in the sport.
Women’s singles star An Se-young claimed gold by defeating world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi 2-0 (21-17, 21-14) in the final. Throughout the tournament, the world No. 1 did not drop a single game, cruising past opponents including Han Yue in the quarterfinals and Wang Zhiyi in the semifinals.
In women’s doubles, Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na secured South Korea’s first women’s doubles gold at the World Championships in 31 years. They defeated the world No. 1 pair Liu Chengzu and Tan Ning 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) in the final, successfully avenging five previous losses to the duo earlier in the season. Meanwhile, men’s doubles world No. 1 pair Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho earned a bronze medal after falling 0-2 to Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the semifinals.
Coach Park Joo-bong Warns of Asian Games Pressure
Attention now shifts to the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan next month. While the recent world championship sweep confirmed the team’s technical readiness, head coach Park Joo-bong emphasized that the regional multisport games carry an entirely different psychological weight.
“It’s a completely different stage from the World Championships,” Park stated upon the team’s arrival in Incheon. “Unlike a tournament focused solely on badminton, this is an event watched by the entire nation, so overcoming various pressures will be crucial.”
Unlike the World Championships, the Asian Games involve national medal competitions. Athletes must compete in both individual and team events, with an increased number of matches and a longer tournament duration.
An Se-young and Doubles Pairs Prepare for Mental Hurdles
An Se-young echoed her coach’s sentiments, prioritizing emotional control over overconfidence despite extending her winning streak against Yamaguchi to six matches. “I really want to win a gold medal at the Asian Games, and I’m eager for it. But the most important thing is not to feel burdened,” An noted. She added that trusting her training regimen, rather than relying purely on raw mental toughness, forms the bedrock of her competitive strategy.
Similarly, Baek Ha-na reflected on how overcoming psychological hurdles in New Delhi prepared the tandem for future high-stakes environments. Having lost five times in a row, Baek admitted to feeling significant anxiety ahead of the title match. By sticking to their tactical roles and ignoring the scoreline, the pair broke their losing skid on the sport’s biggest stage.
With preparations now underway for the Aichi-Nagoya competitions, the South Korean team’s ability to isolate themselves from external expectations will ultimately determine whether their world championship momentum translates into Asian Games gold.
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