"Because there is no perfect play" An Se-young speaks on the meaning of a prime

World number one badminton player An Se-young revealed the agony, injury recovery, and her own philosophy regarding her prime that lies behind her overwhelming 94% win rate.

"Because there is no perfect play"... An Se-young's definition of a prime

When asked when her prime would be, An Se-young replied, "I think my prime is when I play truly perfectly." She added, "But I don't think it will come in the future. Because there is nothing perfect," showing an attitude of doing her best in every moment rather than being consumed by perfection.

Regarding her recent feelings, in response to reactions that she has become calmer than in the past, she suggested that the composure and maturity she feels herself are having a positive impact on her matches, saying, "As I get older, I think I've been able to have more composure." This is interpreted as a result of the experience accumulated while maintaining her position at the top of the world.

Asian Games injury pain and the importance of 'predictive play'

An Se-young mentioned the Asian Games as her most difficult period. Recalling the situation where she suffered a right knee injury at the time, she said, "It was the first time I felt such severe pain while playing badminton." In particular, she confessed to the moments she felt fear while worrying about how to play out the remaining sets due to a patellar rupture. However, she stated that she used the ordeal as a stepping stone for growth, saying, "The injury became an opportunity for me to become stronger."

Regarding her match management style, she emphasized 'predictive play' based on thorough analysis. An Se-young explained that "the day before a match, I watch the opponent's matches a lot," and that analyzing and predicting the opponent's playstyle and movements helps greatly in the match. However, as the world number one, she mentioned that she sometimes gets flustered when opponents analyze her differently, but in those moments, she tries to switch her play quickly.

The 94% win rate record and her daily life

This year, An Se-young picked the long rally scenes shown during the All England Open held in the United Kingdom as her most memorable moments. She explained that the will to not give up and keep returning the shuttlecock was decisive in shifting the momentum. Currently, after finishing the European tour, An Se-young is taking time to reorganize herself with rest while preparing for the Australian Open and final tournaments.

Regarding the record of surpassing 1 billion won in cumulative prize money, she expressed affection for the people around her. An Se-young said she finds joy in taking care of those around her, such as preparing gifts and snacks for her older sisters or juniors. She shared small stories of her daily life, mentioning that she recently even styled her younger sibling from head to toe.