An Se-young returns victorious from World Championships, eyes Asian Games

South Korean badminton star An Se-young returned home on Monday, having secured a flawless victory at the World Badminton Championships. She dominated the tournament, winning every match without dropping a single game, a feat that underscores her current prowess in the sport.

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I believe playing confidently determines the flow of the game. I tried to play confidently, trusting my training and allowing it to translate directly into my matches.

An Se-young attributed her success to a confident mindset and her ability to execute her training on the court. "I believe playing confidently determines the flow of the game," she said upon her return. "I tried to play confidently, trusting my training and allowing it to translate directly into my matches."

Despite a recent left foot injury that led to a withdrawal from the Japan Open last month, An Se-young's return to competition was marked by exceptional performance. She explained that initial hesitation due to pain gradually subsided as she adapted to playing against top international competitors, allowing her to rapidly regain her match sharpness.

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There was some hesitation at first because of the pain, but as I continued to play against world-class players and reacted instinctively, I was able to regain my match form quickly.

This latest world championship title, won by defeating defending champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the final, marks An Se-young's return to the top after a three-year gap since her first world championship win. She expressed that this victory felt more significant than her initial triumph. "This win feels much better than the first win three years ago," An Se-young stated. "The past is the past, and I don't want to remember it. I want to enjoy the present and use this gold medal as fuel to move forward."

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This win feels much better than the first win three years ago. The past is the past, and I don't want to remember it. I want to enjoy the present and use this gold medal as fuel to move forward.

Looking ahead, An Se-young is optimistic about the upcoming Asian Games. "Even if it's held in Japan, I believe the opponents will be nervous if I approach it with a 'nothing to lose' attitude," she said. "I will do as I have been doing and as I have prepared."

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Even if it's held in Japan, I believe the opponents will be nervous if I approach it with a 'nothing to lose' attitude. I will do as I have been doing and as I have prepared.