Source:EYEPRESS Images/F.L Wong
[Saba Sports News] An Se-young, the 23-year-old South Korean badminton player ranked number one in women’s singles, has found herself embroiled in unexpected controversy while vying for the 2025 Player of the Year award. South Korean media have reported that An has had a dominant season this year, capable of shattering records in women’s singles. However, whether she will receive an award commensurate with her achievements remains uncertain.
Focusing on Chinese media, there is a narrative suggesting that “winning is not a sure thing,” which has further amplified the controversy. Objectively, An’s performance has been outstanding. She has won a total of 10 tournament titles this year, including high-level championships like the Malaysia Open, All England Open, and Indonesia Open—all of which are Super 1000 events. Not only has she maintained the world number one ranking throughout the season, but she has also set a record for the most singles titles won in a single season with 10.
However, there is a possibility that An might not benefit from these achievements. The evaluation for the Player of the Year award primarily relies on world ranking points accumulated over 52 weeks, and secondly, a five-member expert panel votes on scores at designated major events. These designated events include the 2024 HSBC BWF World Tour Finals, Super 1000, and Super 750 events, as well as the 2025 World Championships. Notably, the World Tour Finals and the World Championships will award double points. Despite An’s sweeping victories in nearly all events, she unfortunately did not secure titles in the 2024 World Tour Finals and the World Championships, which carry the most significant weighting in points. Upon learning of this situation, dissatisfaction has arisen among badminton fans in South Korea.