*This content was translated by AI.
This is the dignity of the 'world's strongest.' Akane Yamaguchi (29), An Se-young's (24·Samsung Life) rival from Japan and the opponent in the final match, was left speechless by An's overwhelming skill.
Japanese media outlet 'Nikkei News' reported on the 25th an interview with Yamaguchi, who returned to Japan wearing a silver medal after completing the 2026 World Championships held in New Delhi, India.
Yamaguchi, who had won four consecutive matches without losing a single set up to the semifinals and reached the final, was decisively defeated by An Se-young with a set score of 0-2 in the final, settling for runner-up. According to local Japanese reports, upon her return, Yamaguchi praised her matchup against An Se-young, saying, "She is truly a strong player. She is a player who wins almost every tournament."
She continued, "Even though I have reached this level, it is personally very grateful that there exists such a powerful player who constantly challenges me. The fact that there is still a player who helps me grow even more is an excellent stimulus for myself," offering high praise without holding back.
Earlier, on the 23rd, An Se-young decisively defeated Yamaguchi in 49 minutes with a score of 2-0 (21-17, 21-14) in the women's singles final of the 2026 BWF World Championships held at Indira Gandhi Arena in New Delhi, India. This marks her second world championship title overall, achieved three years after her previous victory in the 2023 tournament.
Especially, this victory gained further significance as it was accomplished despite battling injuries. An Se-young had previously withdrawn from the Japan Open last month due to foot pain and also skipped the China Open, competing while not fully recovered. Despite her incomplete physical condition, she dominated the tournament with flawless performance, never losing a single set from the round of 64 to the final.
Holding the World Championship trophy, An Se-young now aims for the first-ever back-to-back Asian Games gold medals in Korean women's singles history. According to a report on the 25th by NEWSIS, upon returning home through Incheon International Airport, An Se-young stated, "This victory is much better than the one three years ago. It will become a great force moving forward again." She added, "It was my first competitive match after recovering from injury, so I was very nervous. I approached it with the thought of quickly regaining my form and didn't have high expectations, but getting such a good result surprised even myself."
She further explained regarding the lingering pain, "I still had pain, so I hesitated in the early stages of the match. However, by competing against world-class players, I adapted, and my quick reactions, which happened almost unconsciously, became a key positive point."
Looking ahead to the 2026 Aichi·Nagoya Asian Games opening in September, An Se-young emphasized, "The most important thing is not feeling burdened. Since all players want gold medals, I too must make efforts commensurate with that goal. If I play confidently, good results will follow."
She also added, "Continuously showing a winning image is a positive sign. If I charge forward without hesitation at the Asian Games with the mindset of having nothing to lose, my opponents will inevitably feel nervous. I will move forward confidently as prepared."
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*This content was translated by AI.
