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Ahn Se-young, the face of Korean badminton, has stormed into the women’s singles final at the India Open on the 18th, eyeing back-to-back world championship victories. The image captures Ahn Se-young celebrating her triumph at the Malaysia Open final last week./AP.Newsis |
[더팩트 | 박순규 기자] Ahn Se-young (22,samsung Life Insurance),the reigning world No. 1 in women’s badminton singles, has been on a meteoric rise since the beginning of the year and is now poised to clinch her second consecutive world championship title.
Fresh off her Paris Olympic gold medal win, Ahn Se-young secured a decisive 2-0 victory (21-19, 21-16) against Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (Indonesia, world No. 5) in the semifinals of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 750 India Open, held in New Delhi, India, on the 18th. This win propelled her into the finals.
On the 19th, Ahn Se-young will face off against world No. 12 Pornpawi Chochuwong (Thailand) in a bid to claim the championship, further solidifying her dominance in the sport. The 2025 India open, a prestigious Super 750 event, attracts the world’s elite players and offers a staggering total prize pool of $950,000.
Having recently clinched her first title of the year at the World Tour Super 1000 Malaysia Open in kuala Lumpur on the 12th, Ahn Se-young is now just one match away from securing her second consecutive international victory. This marks a meaningful achievement, as she previously overcame Tunjung in a nail-biting semifinal at the Paris Olympics last August. In their latest encounter, Ahn Se-young edged out a 21-19 win in the first set, showcasing her resilience and tactical prowess.
In the second set, Ahn Se-young initially surged ahead with a 9-6 lead. however, a series of unforced errors allowed Tunjung to level the score and even briefly take the lead. Demonstrating her mental fortitude, Ahn Se-young regrouped, tied the score at 14-14, and then clinched four consecutive points to seal the victory.
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Ahn Se-young kicked off the new year with a victory over China’s Wang Zhiyi at the Malaysia Open, securing her first title of 2025. |
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – On January 12th, Ahn Se-young, the rising star of Korean badminton, clinched the women’s singles title at the BWF World Tour Super 1000 Malaysia Open. In a dominant performance, she defeated China’s world No.2 Wang Zhiyi with a straight-set victory of 21-17, 21-7 in just 45 minutes. This triumph marked her first title of the year and her second consecutive win at the prestigious tournament, solidifying her status as one of the sport’s elite players.
Last year, Ahn Se-young made headlines by defeating Taiwan’s world No. 4 Tai Tzu-ying in the finals, becoming the first Korean player to win the Malaysia Open twice in a row. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) highlighted this historic achievement on it’s official website, noting that Ahn is the first Korean to secure back-to-back women’s singles titles in the tournament’s 88-year history.
Ahn Se-young’s success extends beyond the Malaysia Open. In 2023,she became the first Korean to win the singles title at the World Championships. She also claimed the women’s singles gold at the All England Open,a feat not achieved by a Korean player in 27 years as Bang bang-hyun. Additionally,at the Hangzhou Asian Games,she made history by winning two gold medals,a milestone last achieved by Bang Bang-hyun at the 1994 Hiroshima Games. With her eyes set on the 2024 Paris Olympics, ahn aims to secure Korea’s first women’s singles gold medal in 28 years, following Bang Bang-hyeon’s victory at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Korean Badminton Dominates Doubles Events
While Ahn Se-young shines in singles, Korean badminton continues to excel in doubles competitions. The men’s doubles pair of Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho (Samsung Life Insurance) showcased their prowess by defeating Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Sou Ik with a score of 2-0 (22-20, 21-19), securing their spot in the finals. Like Ahn, Seo and kim are vying for their second consecutive title at the Malaysia Open.
In the women’s doubles category, Kim Hye-jeong (Samsung Life Insurance) and Kong hee-yong (Jeonbuk Bank) also advanced to the finals after a commanding 2-0 victory (21-18, 21-18) over Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Tina Muralitharan. The duo is now poised to compete for the championship, further cementing Korea’s dominance in international badminton.
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Ahn Se-young Continues Dominance, Advances to India Open Final
Ahn Se-young, the reigning world No. 1 in women’s badminton singles, is on the cusp of securing her second consecutive international title after a stellar performance at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 750 India Open. The 22-year-old South Korean sensation, representing Samsung Life Insurance, has been in scintillating form since the start of 2025, further cementing her status as the sport’s leading figure.
Semifinal Triumph Over Tunjung
On January 18th, Ahn Se-young delivered a commanding 2-0 victory (21-19, 21-16) against Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, the world No. 5, in the semifinals held in New delhi, India.This win not only propelled her into the finals but also showcased her tactical brilliance and mental resilience.The match was a rematch of their intense semifinal clash at the paris Olympics last August, where Ahn emerged victorious in a nail-biting encounter.
In the first set,Ahn edged out a narrow 21-19 win,demonstrating her ability to perform under pressure. The second set saw her initially surge ahead with a 9-6 lead, but a series of unforced errors allowed Tunjung to level the score and briefly take the lead. However, Ahn regrouped, tied the score at 14-14, and then clinched four consecutive points to seal the victory.
Eyeing Back-to-Back Titles
Ahn se-young is now set to face Thailand’s Pornpawi Chochuwong, the world No. 12, in the final on January 19th. A victory would mark her second consecutive international title, following her triumph at the World Tour Super 1000 Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur on January 12th. At the Malaysia Open, Ahn defeated China’s wang Zhiyi to claim her first title of the year, further solidifying her dominance in the sport.
The India Open, a prestigious Super 750 event, boasts a total prize pool of $950,000 and attracts the world’s elite players.Ahn’s consistent performances at such high-stakes tournaments underscore her status as the face of Korean badminton and a formidable force on the global stage.
A Meteoric Rise
Ahn Se-young’s rise to the top has been nothing short of meteoric. Fresh off her Paris Olympic gold medal win, she has continued to dominate the circuit with her extraordinary skill, strategic acumen, and mental fortitude. Her ability to overcome challenges and deliver under pressure has made her a fan favorite and a role model for aspiring athletes.
As she prepares for the india Open final, the badminton world watches with bated breath. Ahn Se-young’s journey is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and unwavering pursuit of excellence. Whether she secures the title or not, her legacy as one of the sport’s greats is already being written.
Stay tuned as Ahn Se-young aims to add another chapter to her illustrious career, further solidifying her place in badminton history.
