Jincheon: Fresh off two consecutive international titles, An Se-young, the world's top-ranked female badminton player, expressed her desire to enjoy herself at her second career Asian Games appearance in Japan this month. An will attempt to defend her two gold medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, following her triumph in the women's team and singles events three years ago in Hangzhou, China.
According to Yonhap News Agency, An shared her thoughts during a national team press conference at the Jincheon National Training Center, located 85 kilometers south of Seoul. "I know fans expect a lot from me, and I am feeling confident as well," she said. An emphasized the importance of not succumbing to pressure and focusing on enjoying her game. "Obviously, as an athlete, it is always great to win a gold medal. But I will try not to put any extra pressure on myself and will try to just play my game and enjoy the experience as much as I can."
An is on the verge of making history, as no South Korean badminton singles player, female or male, has ever won back-to-back Asian Games gold medals. Despite this, she is more motivated by the opportunity to entertain her fans. "It is a huge honor to keep having opportunities to set records, but I just want to play well in each and every match," An added.
An's recent performances have bolstered her confidence. After recovering from a foot injury, she clinched her second career world title in August in India and subsequently won the China Masters title in Shenzhen. Notably, she did not drop a single game across 11 matches in these tournaments.
The Asian Games competition is expected to mirror the world championships, with top seeds being Asian players. An's recent victories against several Asian opponents have prepared her for the challenge. "I have played in so many international tournaments that the Asian Games will feel just like any other event," she remarked. However, she noted the unique honor of hearing the national anthem if she secures the gold medal.
Reflecting on her previous Asian Games experience, An admitted she lacked confidence then, which prevented her from fully savoring the occasion. "Now that I am more experienced, I have a better understanding of what I should do to make sure I can enjoy myself," she noted, adding that being world No. 1 for 100 consecutive weeks has contributed to her peace of mind.
Her dominance over top Asian rivals like Akane Yamaguchi of Japan and Chen Yufei of China suggests she is the favorite for the gold medal. When asked how she would handle herself as an opponent, An confidently stated, "I don't think people can beat me by doing just one thing well, because I will make adjustments on the fly."