An Se-young, the South Korean badminton star, has been recognized as the Player of the Year of the Badminton World Federation (BWF)for its acronym in English) for the second consecutive year, at a ceremony held in Hangzhou, China, on December 9.
This recognition, granted by both the BWF and her own teammates, reinforces her status as one of the best players in the world. The gold medal she won in the women’s singles category at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has been a historic milestone as she became the first South Korean to win an Olympic singles title in badminton in 28 years, since Soo Hyeon Soo achieved it. in Atlanta 1996.
The keys to your international success
An Se-young’s career has been one of constant progress, marked by her tenacity and her ability to stay at the top of international badminton. After a brief two-month break after the Olympic Games, the athlete returned to competition in October, standing out at the Denmark Open, where she reached the final. The following month, in November, she shone again when she was crowned champion at the China Masters, held in Shenzhen.
Upon receiving her award, the young athlete expressed her surprise and gratitude for the support of her fellow players. “I didn’t expect to receive so much support from other players, but I’m very happy,” she said excitedly. «Lee Yong-dae, who was my idol, especially congratulated me. The support of so many people is my greatest motivation,” he added.
From youth promise to world badminton star
Born in Gwangju, South Korea, on February 5, 2002, An began to stand out in the world of badminton from an early age. At the age of 15, he was already leading his team to victory at the Asian Junior Championships in Jakarta. Yes
He quickly joined the Korean senior national team, where he gained a loyal fan base that grew with each tournament he played. In 2019, An claimed her first BWF World Tour title, winning the New Zealand Open Super 300 after beating Olympic champion Li Xuerui in the final.
Over the years, the South Korean player racked up victories in several major tournaments, including the Canadian Open, Akita Masters, French Open and Korea Masters. These achievements catapulted her to the top of the international rankings and earned her recognition as the BWF’s Most Promising Player of the Year in 2019. That same year, the young athlete was included in the “30 under 30” list. of Forbes in the entertainment and sports category, contributing to his status as a star in the world of sports.
Following the global COVID-19 pandemic, many BWF World Tour tournaments were canceled during 2020 and 2021, delaying the youngster’s progress. However, her perseverance led her to overcome this obstacle. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021, she made her Olympic debut and reached the quarterfinals, where she was eliminated by China’s Chen Yufei, who would later be crowned Olympic champion.
The best time for the athlete
You could say that the year 2023 was the peak of An’s career. That year she achieved her first world title at the Badminton World Championships after defeating big names such as Chen Yufei and the Spanish Carolina Marín and managed to become the first South Korean to win a world championship in badminton. Following this historic victory, An rose to the top of the world rankings and reached the number one spot in the BWF rankings in the women’s singles category. Her status as the best player in the world was further consolidated when, in October 2023, she was crowned champion of the Asian Games by defeating Chen Yufei again, adding another great title to her record.
An has expressed his desire to continue enjoying the competition and bringing joy to his country. “If I think of it as pressure, it becomes pressure,” he said in an interview. «I prefer to enjoy the moment. That’s why I always try to perform at my best and celebrate what I do so that the Korean people also enjoy what I’m doing. “If I give my best in every game, I think I will be able to achieve my goals.” Some believe this humility and determination are a critical part of their success.
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