[Saba Sports News] As South Korea’s first player to complete a badminton singles Grand Slam, world No. 1 An Se‑young said upon her return home on April 13:“I’m happy to have kept the promises I made.” At the end of the interview, she added:“I have many thoughts, but right now, rather than words, I should show what I can do through results. Trying to keep what I said has been difficult. I want to become a player who moves forward quietly.” Her implication was clear: she intends to prove herself on the court with achievements.On April 15, South Korea’s Xportsnews published an article stating that An Se‑young’s journey ahead would continue to be thrilling. Over the past three years, she has won at least one title in every major global competition, claiming the women’s singles championship at the Asian Championships, World Championships, Asian Games, and Olympic Games, completing the badminton Grand Slam and emerging as a strong candidate for the GOAT of women’s badminton.On New Year’s Eve this year, An boldly declared that she would win every tournament in 2026 and sweep all four BWF Super 1000 titles. However, at the All England Open Badminton Championships, she was defeated by Wang Zhiyi, whose defense and fitness had improved to match her own, abruptly ending her ambition of sweeping the Super 1000 events this year. An felt deeply remorseful and suffered from failing to fulfill her promise of an undefeated season.
In my opinion, An Se‑young’s self‑blame stems from her extremely high self‑expectations and perfectionist personality, not from a lack of real achievement. As she put it: “Rather than words, I should show what I can do through results.” Such pressure reflects her dedication to excellence and indirectly confirms her greatness: remaining unsatisfied even at the peak is precisely what drives her to continuously surpass herself.