Badminton World No.1 An Se-young "No Comment" Silence... Uncomfortable Journey with Coaching Staff

Head Coach Kim Hak-gyun: "Still a Time for Dialogue"

Returning to the national team, An Se-young (Samsung Life) competed in her first international tournament since the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Yonhap News reported on the 22nd that An Se-young, who appeared at the airport upon her return, seemed cautious, likely aware of the strong statements she made right after the Olympics and the subsequent situation. An Se-young left the scene after briefly saying, "I have nothing to say."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

An Se-young returned to Korea on the 22nd through Incheon International Airport along with head coach Kim Hak-kyun and the national team after finishing as runner-up at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 750 Denmark Open. This tournament was her first international competition after making pointed remarks about the national team management and the Badminton Association following the Olympics.

Like at departure, An Se-young left the airport separately from the coaching staff. During the Denmark Open matches, a subtle tension between An Se-young and head coach Kim Hak-kyun and coach Seong Ji-hyun was caught on the broadcast. SBS commentators expressed their surprise, saying, "During most of the strategy time, An Se-young is alone. There is no feedback."

Foreign media also reported that "An Se-young did not face coach Seong," and "she appeared to ignore coach Seong's instructions during the match."

On the same day, head coach Kim Hak-kyun said, "More time is needed," adding, "There are many things we need to do, so please wait a little. We will resolve things gradually," choosing his words carefully.

Ahn Se-young is departing through Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 13th to participate in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 750 Denmark Open.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The cold atmosphere between An Se-young and the coaching staff was also evident at departure. On the 13th, when An Se-young left for Denmark, she moved to the departure gate alone only after head coach Kim and the team had completed their departure procedures, fueling rumors of discord.

Meanwhile, Kim Taek-gyu, president of the Badminton Korea Association, attended a National Assembly audit on the 22nd as a witness at the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee’s inspection of the Korean Sports Council, where he faced strong criticism from lawmakers.

The audit covered various issues including problems related to national team equipment sponsorship contracts, national team selection, and the dispatch of referees to international tournaments.