Seoul: Women’s singles World No. 1 An Se Young had all the spotlight on her for winning gold in women’s singles category at the 2024 Paris Olympics and then shed light on deep-seated issues within Badminton Korea Association (BKA) upon her return to South Korea. In an interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) recently, An spoke of the controversy, and admitted she does not regret it.
Speaking Out After Winning Gold
Following her historic win in Paris, An Se Young openly criticized the BKA for several systemic problems, including the disregard of player injuries, unequal resource allocation, and a preference for doubles players over singles athletes. Her remarks prompted South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to step in, leading to an investigation and calls for the resignation of BKA president Kim Je Deok.
“I truly don’t regret what I’ve done,” An said in her interview with BWF. “Whether I won or lost the Olympic final, I would have said those things.”
Mixed Feelings About Olympic Victory
An admitted that the controversy overshadowed her personal celebration of winning her first Olympic gold medal. “After the win, I faced a lot of criticism,” she shared. Some accused her of stealing the spotlight from other athletes by publicly addressing these issues during a time of national pride. An has since apologized to her peers for unintentionally drawing attention away from their achievements.
A Call for Change
Despite the challenges, An Se Young stands by her decision to speak out. “It was a tough time, but in the end, I became someone who brought these issues to light,” she said. “I just want to see problems resolved and the sport heading in a better direction.”
Looking Ahead
An is confident that the future will be brighter for her, as things have really improved significantly since the incident. “I would like to thank the support from many people, I am feeling much better now,” she said. Now, her focus is on enjoying the sport and performing at her best. “I wanted to hopefully one day become a legend in the world of badminton,” she added.
