Ahn Se-young & Korea’s Badminton Dominance: Hangzhou 2023

[OSEN=정승우 기자] The Olympic Sports Center in Hangzhou, China was strictly ‘home’ until the start of the game. The cheers of over 10,000 spectators pushed the Chinese players and put pressure on the Korean players. But by the end of the night, the noise disappeared. Instead, only one message remained clearly. It was true that the center of world badminton was no longer located only in China.

The BWF World Tour Finals, which took place on the 21st, is likely to be remembered as Ahn Se-young’s 11th win of the season. However, the essence of this competition was structure, not individuals. It was a stage that proved how thorough the system is in Korean badminton.

The most iconic scene came from men’s doubles. The team of Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho defeated the team of Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang 2-0 in 40 minutes in the final. The content of the game was more one-sided than the score. Neither the crowd pressure nor the home court advantage worked at all.

With this win, Seo Seung-jae reached the top for the 12th time on an individual basis this season. This is a record built up by changing partners. In doubles, this goes beyond just winning numbers. This means that their understanding of tactics, ability to adapt to partners, and ability to manage the game are all at the highest level. If Ahn Se-young was an absolute presence in singles, Seo Seung-jae was close to the core axis that penetrates the overall doubles.

Korea did not falter in the women’s doubles either. The pair of Baek Hana and Lee Sohee won a complete victory in the final against Japan’s powerhouse, and achieved their second consecutive victory in the tournament. This achievement is more than just a trophy. They simultaneously showed the stability of producing results on a big stage and the competitiveness that is maintained even after generations.

In the end, the women’s singles, men’s doubles, and women’s doubles championship trophies in this tournament all fell into the hands of Korean players. The place was a master bedroom in China. It was a result that could not be explained by the skills of one specific player.

Ahn Se-young’s perfection, Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho’s speed, and Baek Hana-Lee So-hee’s balance. Different strengths worked together in one direction to produce results. Hangzhou, December 21, 2025, will remain as the night when Korean badminton went beyond ‘dependence on stars’ and stood at the top with ‘strength of structure’. /[email protected]