Even BWF Officials Were Surprised: World No. 2 Wang Zhiyi Breaks Down in Tears After Final Loss... Is This the Beginning of an 'An Se-young Trauma'?

[The Financial News] Winning the gold medal was not the only achievement. An Se-young has instilled a sense of insurmountable challenge—a trauma—among her rivals. The global badminton community now acknowledges the dominance of the 'An Se-young era,' and this recognition comes directly from her strongest competitors.
An Se-young of Samsung Life Insurance reaffirmed her position as the world’s best by capturing the 2025 BWF World Tour Finals title. However, what stood out even more at this tournament was not the gold medal around An’s neck, but the reactions of her rivals across the net. They all expressed not just respect, but a sense of awe and helplessness.
The most shocking scene unfolded in the mixed zone right after the final. Wang Zhiyi, ranked world No. 2 and backed by the home crowd in China, burst into tears after the match. Even a Badminton World Federation (BWF) official remarked, 'I've never seen Wang Zhiyi cry like that before,' expressing surprise.
These tears were not simply from the sadness of defeat. They reflected the despair of hitting an impenetrable wall. Wang Zhiyi has faced An Se-young eight times this year—and lost every single match. It’s a severe case of 'An Se-young phobia.'
The reason became clear in Wang Zhiyi’s interview. She revealed, 'An Se-young is analyzed and studied by players all over the world. Yet every time she steps on court, she unveils something new.' In other words, even after exhaustive analysis, An has already evolved further. Wang admitted, 'In terms of stability, speed, and match management, she is a cut above the rest,' effectively conceding defeat.

Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, once considered An Se-young’s nemesis, offered even more detailed testimony. In the past, matches between An and Yamaguchi were grueling battles of defense versus defense, often lasting well over an hour.
However, this year’s semifinal ended in just 38 minutes. Yamaguchi attributed this to An Se-young’s newfound 'attacking instinct.'
Yamaguchi confessed, 'An Se-young used to be a defensive player, but now she’s added power to her offense. It’s become much harder to endure rallies.' In fact, An has finished most of her matches this year in under 40 minutes. Once known for exhausting her opponents with relentless defense, she now wields a sharp attack, overwhelming her rivals.


In summary, the message from her rivals is clear: An Se-young is not a champion who stands still.
If her defense is praised, she improves her offense; if her stamina is analyzed, she changes her match strategy. Yamaguchi’s comment, 'It’s a headache figuring out how to play against her,' echoes the collective sentiment among the world’s top women’s singles players.
Wang Zhiyi’s tears and Yamaguchi’s sighs say it all. In the winter of 2025, An Se-young has become both the role model for badminton players worldwide and, at the same time, the most formidable opponent they hope to avoid.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter