ODENSE: A good break and lots of Korean BBQ has done the trick for reigning Olympic Games women’s singles champion An Se-young to make a positive comeback in Denmark.
On Tuesday, the 22-year-old South Korean defeated Thailand’s Pornpicha Choeikeewong 21-16, 21-8 to clear the first round at the Jyske Bank Arena in Odense.
“I’m glad to be back. It has been great to be back on tour with my teammates. I missed it but I got to spend time with family and friends and do the things I enjoy like eating Korean BBQ,” said Se-young.
The Denmark Open is her first tournament since she ended her Paris Olympic Games campaign in an awkward fashion. She lifted the gold medal proudly at the victory ceremony in August and later, took a swipe at her national body by highlighting some of her struggles in the team.
She did not elaborate on the complaints she had made against the national body but it looked like that all has been settled as the Korean was in her element on Tuesday.
Se-young said she was at her best again after two months.
“I was nervous to return to the court after the Olympics, but I can rate that my form as 10 out of 10,” said Se-young, who will take on Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand next.
China’s He Bingjiao, who lost to Se-young in the Paris final, is not in Denmark but China can still depend on second seed Wang Zhiyi to make a strong assault for the title.
Indonesia’s Olympic Games bronze medal winner Gregoria Mariska got off to a flying start by beating local hopeful Line Kjaersfeldt 21-18, 18-21, 21-11 in the first round, and will play another Danish Mia Blichfeldt next.
