SEOUL (Bernama-Yonhap): South Korean Olympic champion An Se-young has been named the world's top female badminton player for the second consecutive year, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) recognised An as the Women's Singles Player of the Year during the BWF World Tour Finals Gala Dinner on Monday in Hangzhou, China.
An secured the women's singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics in August and claimed four additional titles this year. The 22-year-old was also voted by her peers as the inaugural winner of the Players' Player of the Year award.
"I didn't expect I'd receive so much support from other players. I'm delighted to get this award," An was quoted as saying on the BWF's website. "I'm so happy. I have so many people standing by me, supporting me, and they are my biggest motivation."
An faced challenges early in 2024 due to lingering effects of a knee injury sustained while winning the singles title at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Despite not being at full strength, An captured her first career Olympic gold in Paris, securing South Korea's first singles gold medal in 28 years.
Immediately after her historic victory, An criticised the Badminton Korea Association (BKA) for its mishandling of her knee injury and called for a complete overhaul of the national team system.
Her remarks triggered a chain of events, including a months-long government investigation into the BKA and the association's decision not to renew the contract of national team head coach Kim Hak-kyun. - Bernama-Yonhap
