KUCHING: An Se-young produced a remarkable comeback to defeat Wang Zhiyi 13-21, 21-18, 21-18 and win the All England Open Badminton Championship on Sunday, clinching her second title at the prestigious tournament.
The world number two, Wang, dominated the opening game, but An, the reigning 2023 champion, dug deep in the second, recovering from a 13-10 deficit to force a decider.
With the score tied at 18-18 in the final game, the South Korean 23-year-old showed her composure, taking the final three points to seal victory and extend her winning streak to four consecutive tournaments.
“I had all sorts of emotion going through my mind, especially in the second game,” “The only thought that stayed with me was not to give up.
That mindset kept me focused and I think that led me to my win,” An said in a post-match interview.
Despite the match not going as planned, An was satisfied with her performance, admitting the final had taken a toll.
“It was incredibly tough, but I’m happy with the outcome.
“And if there’s one quote I’d like to share with everyone is that, you shouldn’t be tired of repeating things,” said the All England champion.
An’s triumph at Birmingham follows her success at the 2023 World Championships, making it another milestone in a rapidly rising career.
