HANGZHOU (Xinhua) -- Following a 21-13, 18-21, 21-10 victory over defending champion Wang Zhiyi in the BWF World Tour Finals final, An Se-young has claimed her 11th title of the season. This itself is an incredible achievement.
This achievement draws her level with Japanese men's singles legend Kento Momota for the most titles in a season.
An's historic campaign reignites the "Female Lin Dan" debate. On social media, fans are now comparing the 23-year-old phenom to Chinese men's singles superstar Lin, who is widely considered the greatest player in the sport's history.
Since her explosive arrival in 2019, An's progress has been rapid. She helped South Korea win the Uber Cup in 2022, then secured the World Championship title and Olympic gold in the following two years.
Based on this honors list, if she maintains her current form, she certainly has the credentials to lay claim to being the greatest women's singles player of all time. An poses with her trophy after the women's singles final. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
An's greatest strength is her all-around technique. Her exceptional footwork ensures remarkable court coverage and defensive stability, complemented by impressive physical strength and flexibility.
Equally valuable is her mentality. From her debut, she has displayed a veteran's poise, remaining remarkably steady and confident in competitions.
In 2023, after achieving 10 titles that year, An told Xinhua: "I don't feel I've reached my peak yet. If this is the peak, I'd be a little sad."
She has kept her promise, winning even more trophies this season.
In badminton history, several players have shown potential to become the greatest but failed to sustain their competitiveness.
Momota's peak was cut short by a gambling suspension and a subsequent car accident. The immensely talented Tai Tzu-ying struggled to maintain her physical condition. As for Lee Chong Wei, his lack of a world title may be attributed to luck and psychology.
For An, who has the potential to surpass these legends, the greatest threat is no longer herself. To sustain her dominance, she must strive to avoid all disruptions. An hits a return during the women's singles final. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
After winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she publicly disclosed conflicts with the Badminton Association of South Korea, citing forced participation and team bullying, which once led her to consider quitting the national team. Additionally, long-term knee injuries have represented a significant obstacle to overcome.
"Starting this season, the team assigned me a personal coach who checks my physical condition daily to maintain my health," An said. "Now, I just want to be in good form and achieve good results."
Though she humbly believes the comparison to Lin is an overstatement, she admits her career has been "pretty good" so far.
"People used to call me a genius. Now, I prefer to be seen as a player who has grown through experience," said An, adding that after all these trials and tribulations, there is nothing she cannot do.
In the history of women's singles, perhaps only China's two-time Olympic champion Zhang Ning and Spain's three-time world champion Carolina Marin could rival An's claim to be the greatest of all time.
However, compared to them, the younger An still has considerable time to make history. -- Xinhua
