South Korea’s Ahn Se-young, the reigning world No. 1, has won the All England Open, one of the most prestigious badminton tournaments globally. She secured the victory on March 17 (Korea time) in Birmingham, England, defeating Wang Zhi of China in a hard-fought match.
Ahn’s triumph comes after a closely contested match, with the final score 2-1 (13-21, 21-18, 21-18). After dropping the first game, Ahn rallied to win the next two, showcasing both her offensive power and defensive resilience. This marks her second All England Open title, having previously won in 2023.
Ahn’s path to the final included victories over Gao Fangze (China), Kirsty Gilmore (Scotland), Chen Yufei (China), and Akane Yamaguchi (Japan).
The All England Open, which began in 1899, is the oldest badminton tournament in the world. Ahn’s 2023 win was the first by a Korean player in 27 years.
In the men’s doubles, Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae (Samsung Life Insurance) also secured a victory. Their performance added another win to their careers.
The victory highlights Ahn’s dominance in the sport and builds anticipation for her performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
