Is it just An Se-young? "Should I attack or retreat?" World No. 25 crumbles before Kim Ga-eun... Opponent acknowledges her as "the most difficult player to face"

*This content was translated by AI.

South Korea's women's badminton scene is not dominated solely by 'empress' An Se-young (Samsung Life). World No. 12 Kim Ga-eun (Samsung Life) also made her presence felt with a decisive victory from her first match.

On the 1st (Korean time), Kim Ga-eun defeated world No. 25 Unnati Hooda of India 2-0 (21-10, 21-18) in the first round of the women's singles at the 2026 BWF World Tour China Masters held at Shenzhen Arena in Shenzhen, China.

The skill gap was clearly evident in the first game. Kim Ga-eun took an early 4-0 lead and continued to pressure her opponent, widening the score difference. She ultimately won the first game comfortably with a score of 21-10.

In the second game, she faced some challenges against Hooda's counterattacks. Hooda fought back with aggressive smashes and quick net play, even managing to take a 15-14 lead at one point. The match remained tightly contested until it reached 18-18.

However, Kim Ga-eun's concentration shone in crucial moments. From the 18-18 tie, she scored three consecutive points to close out the match. Her unwavering composure and seasoned ability to push opponents during decisive moments stood out.

Indian media also highly praised Kim Ga-eun's performance.

The Indian Express reported after the match that "Unnati could not overcome the wall of world No. 12 Kim Ga-eun," adding, "India's promising talent Unnati was unable to keep up with Kim Ga-eun's unpredictable speed."

It further stated, "Kim Ga-eun is one of the most difficult players to face on tour" and noted that she played a heroic role in helping South Korea reach the Uber Cup summit by defeating China this summer.

The report continued, analyzing that "Kim Ga-eun excels at deceiving opponents with her unique speed variations and stroke play," while "Unnati remained constantly unsettled, unable to decide whether to attack from the net or retreat into defense against Kim."

The Indian Express highlighted not only Kim's overwhelming performance in the first game but also her stable match management during the closely contested second game.

The media explained, "Kim Ga-eun did not allow the momentum to shift against her," adding, "After facing Michelle Li of Canada at the World Championships, Unnati now encountered Kim Ga-eun. It was a match that once again demonstrated how difficult it is to face experienced players who utilize changes and deceptive moves."

Meanwhile, An Se-young also advanced to the round of 16, creating the possibility of an intriguing matchup. If both An Se-young and Kim Ga-eun defeat China's Han Chenxi and Denmark's Rikke Olsen respectively in the round of 16, they could face each other in the quarterfinals. A 'Korean derby' where world No. 1 An Se-young and No. 12 Kim Ga-eun compete for a spot in the semifinals may take place.

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*This content was translated by AI.