An Se-young Eyes Second World Championships Gold; Seo & Kim Target Men’s Doubles Crown
SEOUL – South Korea’s badminton powerhouses are gearing up for the biggest stage of the season. Headlined by world No. 1 An Se-young and top-ranked men’s doubles pair Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho, the South Korean national badminton team is set to depart for New Delhi, India, on August 14 to compete in the upcoming World Championships, running from August 17 to 23.
All eyes are naturally on women’s singles titan An Se-young. BWF’s latest rankings confirmed that the Samsung Life Insurance star has held the world No. 1 ranking for a staggering 96 consecutive weeks. However, her journey to this year’s World Championships hit a speed bump in mid-July when a recurring left foot injury forced her to withdraw mid-tournament from the Japan Open. At the time of her withdrawal, the pain was so severe that she struggled to place weight on her left foot.
Now, following a period of dedicated rehabilitation and rest, An is focused on defending her status on the ultimate stage. Having made history in 2023 as the first Korean athlete—male or female—to capture a World Championships singles gold, she is eager to complete a second “gold smash.”
Speaking at her official commemorative medal release event in Seoul late last month, An expressed optimism about her recovery.
“My physical condition has improved significantly compared to when I withdrew due to injury, and I am participating normally in training,” An shared. “In terms of recovery, I would say it’s about 80 to 90 percent. I am currently preparing with the World Championships as my goal. Although I had to take a break, I consider this time a period to reorganize and return to the court healthier and stronger for a longer career. I will do my best to make a strong comeback.”
An’s track record suggests she will be the player to beat if fully healthy. After a historic season last year—where she set all-time records for single-season titles (11), singles win percentage (94.8%), and single-season prize money ($1.0032 million)—she has maintained a near-flawless record this year, capturing gold in every tournament she entered, with the sole exception of the All England Open.
Double Trouble: Men’s and Women’s Doubles Prospects
South Korea’s ambitions extend far beyond the singles discipline. In men’s doubles, world No. 1 duo Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho are hunting for their second consecutive World Championships crown. Much like An, the pair enjoyed a dominant campaign last season, matching the all-time record with 11 title wins.
For Seo Seung-jae personally, the New Delhi tournament represents a chance to claim his third individual World Championship title, having previously captured top honors at the 2023 edition alongside Kang Min-hyuk. However, Seo and Kang have faced a recent drought, failing to reach the final in their last four outings, making a strong performance in India vital for regaining momentum.
In women’s doubles, world No. 3 pair Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na carry high expectations after a stellar run on major stages this season, which includes silver medals at the Malaysia Open and All England Open, alongside a bronze at the India Open.
The squad, however, will be slightly depleted. World No. 6 duo Kong Hee-yong and Kim Hye-jeong—who recently captured their first title of the season at the Japan Open—will unfortunately miss the tournament due to a knee injury sustained by Kong.
Despite the setback, the South Korean contingent enters New Delhi with world-class momentum, aiming to reign supreme across multiple categories on badminton’s grandest stage.
