When An Se Young walks into the TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2025 in Paris 🇫🇷🏸, she’ll arrive as the reigning world champion, Olympic gold medallist, and world No.1 — all at just 23 years old. Already regarded as one of the game’s all-time greats, she admits her biggest rival isn’t across the net.
“All opponents are dangerous, but my toughest battle is against myself,” An revealed after drawing world No.101 Clara Lassaux in the opening round at the Adidas Arena.
Her calm presence often hides the fact that nerves and pressure weigh heavily on her. “I do feel nervous, but I’ve learned to enjoy those emotions — it’s part of the journey,” she said.
Injury nearly derailed her Paris preparation, as a knee problem forced her to withdraw from the China Open semifinals. But recovery has gone smoothly. “It’s almost at 100 per cent now. Training has been intense, but I’ve kept up well,” she assured.
Her section of the draw includes Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, Michelle Li, and teammate Sim Yu Jin — but An insists it’s not about names. “At the Worlds, every match matters. I’ll face them one by one.”
Paris is a special stage for her — last year she struck Olympic gold and lifted the French Open in the same venue. Still, she knows past glory doesn’t guarantee anything. “History doesn’t win matches. I just want to show my best, and the results will follow.”
Six titles this season, including three Super 1000s, underline her dominance. Yet she admits expectations have grown. “At first, I just tried to enjoy the game. But as the season went on, my hunger to win got stronger.”
That hunger was on full display at the Indonesia Open in June, where she came back from 17-9 down in the second game to beat Wang Zhi Yi in the final. “I told myself to focus on one point at a time. When I sensed she was shaken, I attacked that weakness,” she recalled.
As she returns to Paris, her strength lies not just in her skills, but in her mindset — a reminder that sometimes, the fiercest opponent is the one within.
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