PARIS — An Se-young, the world’s top-ranked women’s singles badminton player, has advanced to the final at the Paris Olympics, guaranteeing South Korea its first Olympic medal in the event since 1996.
According to Yonhap News Agency, An overcame a challenging match against Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, winning 2-1 (11-21, 21-13, 21-16) in the semifinals held at La Chapelle Arena. With this victory, An ensures at least a silver medal, marking a significant milestone as the first such achievement for South Korea in women’s singles badminton since Bang Soo-hyun’s gold at the Atlanta Games.
An will face either He Bingjiao of China or Carolina Marin of Spain in Monday’s final. An holds a favorable record against both potential opponents, having defeated Marin in the finals of the 2023 World Championships and leading He 8-5 in their head-to-head matchups.
The semifinal match began unfavorably for An, as Tunjung took early control, winning the first set decisively. However, An reversed her fortunes in the subsequent sets with a display of resilience and strategic play. She dominated the second and third sets, effectively countering Tunjung’s initial advantage and showcasing the skills that have made her a top contender for the gold.
An’s performance in Paris continues her impressive run of form, following a semifinal victory over Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, where she also rallied from a set down to win. Her ability to recover and dominate in crucial moments highlights her potential to achieve further success in the upcoming final.