PARIS - An Se-young, the top-ranked women's singles badminton player, reached the semifinals of the Paris Olympics on Saturday, defeating her longtime rival, Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, in a thrilling quarterfinal match.
According to Yonhap News Agency, An, who is the reigning 2023 world champion, overcame an initial setback to win 2-1 (15-21, 21-17, 21-8) at La Chapelle Arena. The match started with Yamaguchi dictating the pace, capturing the first game by making An cover every corner of the court. Despite a strong challenge from An, Yamaguchi maintained her lead and sealed the first game.
The momentum shifted in the second game as An found her rhythm, forcing Yamaguchi into errors and taking an early lead. Although Yamaguchi attempted a comeback, An secured the game to level the match. The final game saw An dominate, as Yamaguchi, appearing fatigued and increasingly error-prone, couldn't keep pace, allowing An to close out the match decisively.
An now faces Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia in the semifinals, where she holds a perfect record against her, having won all their previous encounters. An's victory over Yamaguchi, a former world No. 1, marked a significant moment in her Olympic campaign, as Yamaguchi had been seen as a major obstacle due to her previous successes against An.
Reflecting on her victory, An shared, "This was the match I was most worried about. I kept telling myself I could win, and did my best until the end." She remains focused on her goal of winning her first Olympic gold, approaching each match with a strategy to manage her nerves and maintain her training discipline.
An's determination and consistent performance under pressure have put her just two wins away from realizing her Olympic dream.