The Korean national badminton team is intensifying its preparations for the 2025 BWF World Championships, setting its sights on reclaiming its position at the top of the sport. The team announced at a media day on the 18th, held at the Jincheon National Training Center in Chungbuk Province, that a total of 13 athletes will compete in Paris from August 25 to 31. Leading the squad are women’s singles World No.1 An Se-young, along with the men’s doubles pair Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho.

An Se-young expressed her confidence about defending her title, saying, “If I stick to the game I practiced, I believe good results will come.” In 2023, An became the first Korean ever—across both men’s and women’s singles—to win gold at the event. “Starting with a renewed mindset always brings positive outcomes,” she added. “From now on, I’ll do my best to deliver outstanding performances.”

Though she was forced to withdraw from the China Open earlier this year due to knee pain, An reports that she has fully recovered and is now able to complete her training sessions without issue. “My plan is to peak in condition for the tournament, so there’s no need to worry,” she reassured.

Significantly, Paris holds special meaning for An Se-young, as the city is where she claimed Olympic gold. “I’ve had so many good results in France, so I’m excited to see how I’ll perform,” said An. “It feels like a place where things just tend to go my way.”

On the tactical front, An intends to maintain her trademark defensive style while incorporating faster attacks and more aggressive corner play. “I’ve been thinking a lot about playing more offensively, and my practice is starting to show natural results,” she explained, adding, “but there is still room for more development.”

At this year’s World Championships, An is likely to face World No.4 Chen Yufei of China in the semifinals, with a potential finals showdown against World No.2 Wang Zhiyi or World No.3 Han Yue, also of China. “I have sometimes fallen behind against Chinese players, but when I regain my rhythm, the results come back in my favor,” she said. “If I focus on my own game, I’m confident I can deliver excellent performances.”

At the previous championships, Korea achieved its best-ever result, taking gold in women’s singles, mixed doubles, and men’s doubles. This year, the women’s doubles pairs Lee So-hee/Baek Ha-na and Kong Hee-yong/Kim Hye-jeong, men’s singles players Jeon Hyeok-jin and Kim Byeong-jae, plus women’s singles hopefuls Shim Yu-jin and Kim Ga-eun, will all look to reach the podium.

National team coach Park Joo-bong stated, “We want to finish our preparations well and get great results,” stressing, “Although our squad is small, with the high quality of our training, we are aiming to repeat last year’s success.”

After the media day, intense training continued in the Olympic Hall at the Jincheon facility. An Se-young upped her in-game sense by taking on two opponents at once in specialized training drills. The coaching staff helped maintain her concentration, wiping away sweat every time An threw herself to the floor. An remarked, “Coach Park Joo-bong’s training is a bit less strenuous than before, but it’s still not easy. I’m feeling much better physically now, so there’s no need for concern.”

In men’s doubles, Seo Seung-jae endured over an hour of relentless attacks from his coach during practice, working up a sweat. His partner, Kim Won-ho, missed team practice due to allergy symptoms and managed his condition with individual strength training.

In the mixed doubles, Chae Yu-jung and her new partner Lee Jong-min will aim to defend their title for a second consecutive year. “There is some pressure, but as this is a major event, I plan to lead by example and guide our team well,” Chae said.

The Korean national badminton team is scheduled to depart for Paris on August 22. This year’s World Championships will feature five disciplines: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Yonhap News