South Korean badminton star An Se-young has cemented her status as one of the sport’s greatest players in history by capturing the women’s singles gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Playing on September 29, the reigning world and Olympic champion defeated Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-9 in the final to become the first women’s singles player to win back-to-back Asian Games titles since the event was introduced to the program in 1962.
Historic Triumph at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games
An secured her latest major title with a dominant display in the final against Yamaguchi, completing the match in 49 minutes. Despite facing a fierce draw featuring the world's top-ranked players, the South Korean star won the tournament without dropping a single game. The semifinal round of the competition brought together the sport’s elite, featuring Wang Zhiyi of China, Chen Yufei of China, and Yamaguchi alongside An.
Reflecting on her tactical approach in the final, An explained the challenges of facing the rapid Japanese defender. “Yamaguchi is an excellent defensive player and extremely rapid. I first had to think very carefully about my strategy against her,” An said, noting that she focused on quick decision-making to avoid overthinking on the court. “I approached this match with the objective of putting my opponent under pressure and forcing her to move constantly. And it worked.”
Overwhelmed by her milestone victory on the court, An dropped to her knees, leaned back, and looked skyward in celebration. “I have the feeling of dreaming. I am incredibly happy and overwhelmed by the emotion when recalling all the efforts I have made,” she said.
A Record-Breaking Run of Dominance
The Asian Games gold medal adds to an unprecedented resume that establishes An at the pinnacle of modern badminton. Her recent triumphs include world championship titles in 2023 and 2026, alongside her victory at the 2024 Olympic Games. In 2025, she set a single-season record by capturing 11 international titles and becoming the first badminton player in history to surpass one million dollars in prize money within a single season. She has also maintained the world number one ranking in women’s singles for more than 100 weeks.
This relentless consistency mirrors her performance at the World Championships held in August, where An also topped the podium without conceding a single match, defeating Wang in the semifinals and Yamaguchi in the final. With her latest historic performance in Aichi-Nagoya, the South Korean champion continues to distance herself from the competitive field, reinforcing a legacy that spans multiple major international crowns.
