AN-SE YOUNG DOMINATES HAN YUE, WINS CHINA MASTERS

[OSEN=Ko Sung-hwan reporter] Truly deserving of the world No. 1 ranking. It took only 33 minutes for the gold medal to become An Se-young's (23 years old, Samsung Life Insurance) possession.

An Se-young easily defeated world No. 3 Han Yue (China) with a set score of 2-0 (21-11, 21-3) in the women's singles final of the 2025 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour China Masters (Super 750) held at the Shenzhen Arena in Shenzhen, China on the 21st, Korean time, securing the championship.

It was a one-sided victory, concluding in just 33 minutes. An Se-young successfully dominated from the start of the first game, creating a 10-point gap early on. Even Han Yue, who had risen through the ranks by defeating Chen Yufei (China), known as An's nemesis, proved to be no match.

There was no turning point. An Se-young, in fact, showcased even more overwhelming skill in the second game. After scoring eight consecutive points early on, she quickly seized the momentum and added another nine points, ultimately defeating Han Yue. The gap was so significant that it was hard to believe the final was between the world No. 1 and No. 3.

With this victory, An Se-young secured her seventh championship of the season. Starting with the Malaysia Open in January, she went on to dominate the India Open, Orléans Masters, All England Open, Indonesia Open, Japan Open, and now the China Masters, showcasing the might of the "Shuttlecock Queen."

This gold medal is particularly meaningful as it marks a clean recovery from injury. An Se-young had attempted the "Super 1000 Slam" at the China Open in late July but withdrew in the semifinals due to injury. Later, at the World Championships in late August, she was halted in the semifinals by Chen Yufei, ending her bid for a second consecutive title.

However, this tournament was different. An Se-young displayed flawless performance, not dropping a single set from the round of 32 to the final, becoming the champion of the China Open for the second consecutive year. Out of the 10 tournaments she participated in this year, An Se-young won seven, excluding the Singapore Open (round of 16 exit), World Championships (semifinals exit), and the China Open (withdrawal due to injury).

Now, An Se-young returns home to challenge for the Korea Open title, which she last won two years ago. She is scheduled to participate in the 2025 BWF World Tour (Super 500) Korea Open in Suwon starting on the 23rd. This tournament will not feature Wang Zhiyi (No. 2, China), Han Yue, Chen Yufei, and others.

/finekosh@osen.co.kr

[Photo] Korea Badminton Association.