Badminton world champion An Se-young shifts focus to defending Asian Games title

South Korean badminton star An Se-young, the newly crowned world champion, announced on Tuesday that she will focus on defending her Asian Games title next month in Japan. An had just returned home, two days after securing her second career world title in women's singles at the championship held in New Delhi. The victory came after a perfect six-match run, during which she did not lose a single game. An, currently the world No. 1, triumphed over second-ranked Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 21-17, 21-14 in the final.

Upon her return, An expressed her nervousness about making a comeback from a left foot injury that forced her withdrawal from the Japan Open in July. However, she was pleasantly surprised by her performance and did not have high expectations for herself. An credited her improved conditions and ability to react to shots as she continued to play against top opponents.

With Yamaguchi on her home turf, An believes that her recent victories over the Japanese veteran will give her confidence and advantage at the Asian Games. She emphasized the importance of playing with confidence to translate her belief into a successful performance on the court.