Seyoung Ahn ⓒ Newsis
Ahn Se-young (Samsung Life Insurance) returned home after winning her first international competition since the Paris Olympics.
Ahn Se-young returned through Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 around 7 pm on the 25th.
Some travelers who heard the news that “Ahn Se-young will be arriving at the airport soon” waited for Ahn Se-young at the arrival hall, and when Ahn Se-young appeared, they raised their voices of support along with fans.
Last week, Ahn Se-young participated in the ‘Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 750’ China Masters. The China Masters is Ahn Se-young’s second international competition after the Paris Olympics, where she won the gold medal.
In the quarterfinals, she defeated ‘World No. 23’ Zhang Yiman (China), and in the semifinals, she defeated ‘World No. 14’ Tomoka Miyazaki (Japan). The opponent in the final, Gao Fangjie (China), ranked 28th in the world, pushed out Wang Ziyi (China), ranked 2nd in the world, and advanced to the finals, but it was not enough in front of Se-young Ahn.
With this win, Ahn Se-young once again announced her health. Ahn Se-young, who showed her fighting spirit despite suffering from an ankle injury at the Paris Olympics and won the women’s singles Olympic gold medal in Korean badminton for the first time in 28 years, was embroiled in a strong controversy with an ‘explosive remark’ directly attacking the Badminton Association immediately after winning the medal, and has had a painful time.
Seyoung Ahn ⓒ Newsis
Ahn Se-young publicly criticized the Korean Badminton Association’s training methods and player management and demanded improvements. Ahn Se-young’s so-called ‘resolute statement’ was delivered to President Yoon Seok-yeol, and as a result of a large-scale investigation by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, it was confirmed that the Badminton Association violated the subsidy law and unfairly distributed sponsorship items. The investigation also revealed Chairman Kim Taek-gyu’s workplace harassment, verbal abuse, and excessive demands for protocol.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism requested the police to investigate, requested the dismissal of Kim Taek-gyu, the head of the Badminton Association, and severe disciplinary action against the secretary-general, and recommended that the existing injustices be corrected. It was also announced that if the association does not make efforts to self-correct, it will designate a management organization, dismiss all executives, and stop all budget support other than player support.
Despite the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s investigation results and corrective instructions, there have been no substantive changes as of yet, other than an upward adjustment of the reward.
Association President Kim Taek-gyu also remains. In response to a request to “not allow her to wear sponsor shoes that do not fit her feet,” the association announced that it would temporarily only allow Ahn Se-young, and Ahn Se-young had no choice but to refuse, and is still running wearing sponsor shoes. Rather, the Badminton Association objected to the criticism of violation of the subsidy law, saying, “The subsidy was implemented in compliance with the guidelines and with the approval of a higher authority.”
According to BWF, Ahn Se-young expressed her feelings immediately after winning the China Masters, saying, “I am so happy that I can’t express it in words.” However, it was different at the arrival hall. Ahn Se-young, who entered wearing a mask, left the airport with only the words “I’m sorry” in response to a barrage of questions from reporters. It seems that they decided not to answer for fear that awkward questions about the Badminton Association would still arise.
The opinion is gaining ground that in order to protect Ahn Se-young, who has reaffirmed her world-class skills, the association must change and its surveillance system must function properly.
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