"I Ran on an Injury and It Got Better"... An Se-young’s Common-Sense-Defying, Zombie-Like Powers of Recovery Shock the World

[Financial News] "I was worried because my leg was under a lot of strain, but it actually started to recover as I played more matches."
It was a comment that made you doubt your ears. Common sense says injuries heal with rest. But for the world’s best, An Se-young of Samsung Life Insurance, the badminton court is a hospital and rallies are her medicine. Her outrageous remark, the kind that would leave her rivals utterly stunned, rang out in the arrivals hall at Incheon International Airport.
Having conquered both Malaysia and India back-to-back at the very start of the new year, An Se-young returned home in triumph via Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 19th. Two gold medals hung around her neck, yet her expression was calm, as if to say, "Now I’m finally warmed up."
The biggest question on reporters’ minds that day was An Se-young’s physical condition. During the Malaysia Open, she was seen limping and gasping for breath, causing serious concern among fans. The brutal schedule even sparked controversy that she was being pushed too hard.

But An Se-young’s answer was shocking.
“To be honest, my recovery after the BWF World Tour Finals wasn’t complete, so my leg was under a lot of strain and I was afraid I might get cramps,” she admitted.
Then came the twist. "But I actually felt myself recovering more as I played," An Se-young said. "By the time of the India Open, my body felt even better, so I was satisfied." While others see their stamina drop and crumble in the final, An Se-young is saying that the closer she gets to the final, the more her energy is recharged.
This suggests that An Se-young is no longer just a technical master, but has reached a level of physical ability that seems almost beyond human. It also helps explain why Wang Zhiyi looked so helpless in the final.
The year 2026 is the Year of the Horse, often symbolized in Korea by the powerful "red horse." For An Se-young, who was born in the Year of the Horse, it is practically her own year. Perhaps that is why she is showing an unprecedented level of competitive fire—no, outright hunger.

She has already set a monumental record with 30 consecutive wins and six straight tournament titles, but An Se-young is still hungry. "There are many big events this year, including the Asian Games," she said firmly. "I don’t want to miss a single one of those tournaments—I want to sweep them all."
Most athletes would say something modest like, "I’ll just do my best," but An Se-young effectively issued a declaration of war: she "won’t miss" any of them. For An Se-young, who is aiming to become the first Korean player ever to win back-to-back singles titles at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya this September, the word "concession" does not seem to exist.
Through her arrival interview, An Se-young signaled that her prime is only just beginning. She runs through the pain to heal her injured leg, and even after 30 victories, she is already craving her 31st.
The global badminton community is shouting "Beat An Se-young" and poring over ways to stop her, but how on earth do you contain a monster who only grows stronger the more she runs?
Watching An Se-young’s back as she walked out of Incheon International Airport, you could almost hear the deep sighs of her rivals, resigned to spending yet another year in second place.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter