Badminton Empress An Se-young: Record-Breaking Year & Future Goals

‘Badminton Empress’ An Se-young Reflects on Record-Breaking Year
Achieving Most Wins Felt Like a Breakthrough… Pursued Excellence Daily to Realize Dream
Enjoys Tea in Nature… Took a Week to Unwind and Close Out the Year
Preparing to Break More Records in the New Year… Eyes Grand Slam at April’s Asian Championships

“I pleaded with my body. Just let me hold on for one more point.”

‘Badminton Empress’ An Se-young (23) recalled the pivotal moment in the final of the BWF World Tour Finals women’s singles match held in Hangzhou, China on December 21st, describing the pressure she felt when facing championship point.

At that point, An Se-young led Wang Zhiyi (China, No. 2) 20-10 in the third set, with the match tied at one set apiece. However, the game was temporarily halted as An Se-young complained of pain in her left thigh. She was just one point away from tying the record for most single-season wins (11) – a mark previously held solely by Kento Momota (31, Japan) – when a cramp struck her left leg.

In a written interview with this publication on December 29th, An Se-young explained, “The thought of ‘I absolutely have to do this’ weighed heavily on me leading up to the tournament. I was so worried I barely slept.” She continued, “The match was a hard-fought battle, and I had to run a lot, which caused the cramp. I begged my body, again and again, to just let me hold on for one more point.” An Se-young ultimately dug deep and secured the final point, achieving the historic feat.

● “If You Give Your Best Every Day, Dreams Come True”

An Se-young’s victory marked a new chapter in badminton history. She tied the record for most single-season wins across both men’s and women’s singles, and finished the season ranked No. 1 in women’s singles for the third year running. She also established a record for the highest win rate (94.8%) in World Tour history and became the first singles player to surpass $1 million (approximately ₩1.43 billion) in prize money. In a year filled with rising stars, An Se-young shone the brightest.

Returning to Korea on December 22nd, An Se-young shared her emotions in her first interview with domestic media, stating, “There are no words to describe it. It felt like something that had been ‘stuck’ inside me finally burst open.” She added, “I’m so grateful to have been able to set so many records in this tournament; it’s a memory I will cherish.”

An Se-young was the first woman to reach 10 wins in a single season of women’s singles. “When I first achieved 10 wins, I was overjoyed, but I didn’t overthink it. I just focused on playing every match without regrets,” she said. “I lived each day to the fullest, and it was a year where I was once again amazed to see my dreams come true.”

● Welcoming the New Year on a Plane

Each time An Se-young broke a new record this year, she resolved to “enjoy it for just one day.” With the season still underway and a long road ahead, she refocused her energy on training and competition.

Having capped off a spectacular year with her World Tour Finals triumph, An Se-young shared, “I was exhausted, so I took about a week off at the end of the year. I often visited quiet cafes to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.” She added, “I love being in peaceful places, gazing at nature and drinking tea without a care in the world.”

After a brief respite, she’s already preparing for the 2026 season and a fresh wave of records, starting earlier than most. An Se-young and the rest of the Korean badminton team will board a flight to Malaysia at 12:10 AM on January 1st to defend her title at the BWF World Tour Malaysia Open (Super 1000). Having won three of the four Super 1000 events this year, and forced to withdraw from the China Open quarterfinals due to a knee injury, An Se-young is aiming to achieve the first-ever ‘Super 1000 Slam’ in BWF history.

“I had to withdraw from the China Open semifinals after suffering a severe injury when I slipped,” An Se-young explained. “I plan to focus on the fundamentals and deliver a strong performance at the Malaysia Open, which kicks off the 2026 season. After that, I’ll regroup and prepare my body for another run at records.”

● 2026: ‘My Year’

Immediately after winning the World Tour Finals, An Se-young posted on her Instagram, expressing her determination to “break more records next year.” Beyond the Super 1000 Slam, she’s setting her sights on the Grand Slam at the Asian Championships, which begins on April 7th. An Se-young already holds titles at the 2023 World Championships and Asian Games, and won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Winning the Asian Championships would make her only the second woman in history – following Carolina Marin (32, Spain) – to achieve a Grand Slam in women’s singles. No Korean woman has ever accomplished this feat.

“I’m ambitious, but I’m trying to approach it as ‘just another match’,” she said. “To achieve good results, I need to practice without regrets. I’ll dedicate myself to perfecting every detail, day by day.” She will also compete at the Asian Games in September 19th, aiming to defend her title.

An Se-young’s most anticipated tournament is the World Championships, held in India from August 17th. She made history in 2023 as the first Korean woman to win the tournament, but fell short of a repeat in 2024, losing in the semifinals. “I want to deliver a strong performance at the World Championships and write another new chapter in Korean badminton history,” she declared.