An Se-young sheds tears during a press conference, after completing the women's team event at the 105th National Sports Festival at Miryang Badminton Stadium, Wednesday. It marked her first match since the Paris Olympics. Yonhap

Korean badminton star An Se-young made an emotional comeback, shedding tears despite displaying bright energy on the court. After a successful match in front of domestic fans, the Olympic gold medalist greeted the crowd enthusiastically, but couldn't hold back her emotions upon reflecting on her return.

An, who had remained quiet after openly criticizing the Badminton Korea Association and the national team's management system after her gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics, broke her silence when asked if her love for badminton had grown during her break. She began with a soft “A little...” before tears welled up.

Struggling to control her emotions, An expressed gratitude to her waiting fans, saying, “It was so upsetting ... but I'm glad I could come back successfully.”

After focusing solely on rehabilitation following the Paris Olympics, An made her return on Oct. 9 at the 105th National Sports Festival. Competing in the women's team event at the Miryang Badminton Stadium, An, representing Busan, played in the second singles match and defeated Shim Yu-jin (affiliated with Incheon International Airport).

The event drew hundreds of fans and media, creating an electrifying atmosphere, with loud cheers in support of An's return.

An Se-young plays at the Miryang Stadium during the National Sports Festival, Wednesday. Yonhap

In a post-match interview, An (affiliated with Samsung Life Insurance) expressed her joy: “It was my first match since the Olympics, and I was so happy that many people still remembered and cheered for me. I felt pressure to do well, but I'm glad everything went according to plan.”

She explained her interaction with the fans by saying, “I think I waited two months for this moment. I just wanted those who came to watch and enjoy my game, and I expressed my feelings after the match.”

Following the National Sports Festival, An will represent Korea again at the Denmark Open on Oct. 15. Reflecting on her time off, she said, “I was really exhausted preparing for the Olympics without any break, but I've rested well. My physical condition has improved, and I feel like I'm at about 70 to 80 percent of my best form now.”

An Se-young sheds tears during a press conference, Wednesday. Yonhap

No comment on changes in Badminton association

Regarding her drop from world No. 1 to No. 2 during her time off, An responded with confidence, saying, “I've achieved my dream, so I thought it was okay to enjoy myself a bit. I didn't focus too much on the ranking. If I continue to enjoy playing badminton, I believe I'll reach No. 1 again.”

An's bold statements following the Olympics have sparked calls for change in Korea's sports community, aimed at eliminating outdated practices.

However, when asked if the changes are moving in the right direction, An cautiously replied, “I have nothing to say.”

During the interview, surrounded by many supportive fans, An expressed her gratitude, saying, “I want to thank everyone who waited (for me) and continue to love badminton.”

As she shed tears, fans chanted “don't cry,” to which An responded, “I'll continue to show you my best, so please keep cheering for me.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.