An Se-young Secures Record-Tying 11th Title, Conquers BWF World Tour Finals
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A dominant performance from world No. 1 An Se-young culminated in a record-tying 11th international title of the season on Sunday, as she defeated China’s Wang Zhiyi at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals in Hangzhou.
An Se-young’s victory at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium not only secured the women’s singles title but also placed her in a rare tie with former men’s singles champion Kento Momota for the most international titles won in a single season. The 2024 Olympic gold medalist overcame Wang Zhiyi in a thrilling three-game match, 2-1 (21-13, 18-21, 21-10).
A Season of Unprecedented Success
This win marks the pinnacle of an extraordinary season for the Korean badminton star. An reached an impressive 12 finals in 15 BWF World Tour events, demonstrating remarkable consistency and skill. Her only defeat in a final this year came against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi at the Korea Open in September.
The BWF World Tour Finals, an exclusive event for the top eight individual players and doubles pairs, served as the perfect stage for An to cement her status as the world’s leading player. She navigated the tournament flawlessly, remaining undefeated in the preliminary round-robin stage and avenging her earlier loss to Yamaguchi in the semifinals.
Battling Through Adversity in the Final
The final against Wang Zhiyi proved to be a challenging encounter. An initially struggled to find her rhythm, falling behind 8-4 in the first game. However, she quickly regained control, turning the deficit into a commanding 12-8 lead and ultimately securing the first game with a score of 21-13. Her signature shotmaking and exceptional defense were on full display.
Wang responded strongly in the second game, once again establishing an early lead. Despite a determined effort from An, who fought back to tie the score at 10-10, Wang ultimately prevailed 21-18, forcing a decisive third game.
The final game saw An assert her dominance, taking an 8-5 lead and extending it to a substantial 15-6 advantage. Despite visibly battling fatigue and apparent discomfort in her left knee – flexing the leg repeatedly and requiring a brief timeout for stretching at 20-10 – An persevered. She ultimately converted the match point, securing the victory while essentially playing on one leg.
Dominance Over Wang Zhiyi
An’s head-to-head record against Wang Zhiyi now stands at an impressive 16-4, with a perfect 8-0 record this year. Her only loss to Wang came in the semifinals of the 2024 World Tour Finals. This latest victory underscores An’s consistent ability to perform at the highest level against one of her toughest rivals.
An Se-young celebrates after defeating Wang Zhiyi during their women’s singles final match at the BWF Badminton World Tour Finals at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China, Sunday. AFP-Yonhap.
This remarkable season solidifies An Se-young’s position as a force to be reckoned with in the world of badminton, and sets the stage for a potentially historic run at the 2024 Olympic Games.
