An Se-young, who secured her second career World Championships title with a "flawless" performance—not dropping a single game—in her first tournament back following a one-month injury hiatus, pointed to self-belief as the secret to her reign as the sport's ultimate powerhouse.

Speaking to reporters upon her return through Incheon International Airport today, An said, "I think playing with confidence dictates the flow of a match. I tried to trust myself and the training I put in, and play with confidence so that it would show directly on the court."

An claimed her second gold medal at the 2026 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships, which concluded in New Delhi, India.

Having made history at the 2023 Copenhagen tournament by capturing South Korea's first-ever singles title at the World Championships, An has reclaimed the world's top spot three years later.

"This victory feels much better than the one from three years ago," An said with a bright smile. "Since that previous win is already in the past, I don't even want to dwell on it. I just want to enjoy the present moment, and I think this gold medal will serve as the driving force for me to keep moving forward."

Her achievement carries even greater significance given that she accomplished a "flawless" victory without dropping a single game throughout the tournament, despite not being in peak physical condition due to the lingering effects of an injury.

The tournament marked An's return after about a month, having briefly halted her dominant winning streak last month due to pain in her left foot during the Japan Open.

"Because I was dealing with pain, I hesitated a bit in my movements early on," An confessed.

"As I continued playing against world-class opponents, I adapted to the physical discomfort and reacted almost instinctively, which allowed me to quickly regain my match fitness," she added.


An is now an undisputed powerhouse against whom finding a match is difficult.

Excluding the All England Open and the Japan Open—where she was forced to retire due to injury—she has won gold medals in all eight tournaments she has competed in this season.

In particular, An defeated world No. 3 Wang Zhiyi of China in the semifinals, extending her dominant head-to-head record to 13 wins and 1 loss in their last 14 encounters. In the final, she maintained her six-match winning streak against the tournament's defending champion, Akane Yamaguchi, firmly showcasing her status as the unrivaled "strongest player."

Expectations are naturally high for another gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which will be held in Japan this coming September.

"Even though it's being held in Japan, if I attack with confidence under the mindset that I have nothing left to lose, my opponents will feel the pressure," An said. "I will keep doing what I've been doing and stick to how I've prepared."

(Photo: Yonhap News)