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Agence France-Presse

South Korea’s badminton world No 1 An Se-young said on Tuesday that a medal at next month’s Paris Olympics will be the “final piece of the puzzle”.
An has almost won it all aged just 22 – she is the reigning world and Asian Games champion, as well as ranked number one.
The only thing now missing is an Olympic medal, having gone out in the quarter-finals to eventual champion Chen Yufei at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games three years ago.
“I think an Olympic medal is my final piece of the puzzle,” An said during a media day at the national training centre near Seoul, according to Yonhap News Agency.
“I will try to bring home a perfect puzzle. I will give this Olympics everything I have.”
An heads to the French capital as favourite, but among those standing in her way is China’s Chen, who is also the world No 2.

Chen leads 12-8 in their head-to-head record, but An defeated her to win gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last year.
The South Korean has not been at her best this year because of a knee injury, but goes to Paris with her fitness now less of a concern.
“I’ve been trying to keep positive thoughts in my mind and give myself an encouraging pep talk,” she said.
“I’ve learned that I can change my mindset and my body with positive thinking and that it carries over into matches.
“I will try to stay on this course.”


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Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Paris Olympics 2024: badminton No 1 An Se-young says Games medal is ‘final piece of puzzle’

South Korea’s An Se-young hits a return against China’s Chen Yufei in the Indonesia Open singles final in Jakarta in early June, won by Chen. Photo: AFP

China’s Olympic champion Chen Yufei is An’s biggest obstacle for a gold medal in Paris. Photo: AFP

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Afghan Olympic cyclist Masomah Ali Zada is chef de mission of the Refugee team at the Paris Olympics. Photo: AFP

Masomah was abused when riding her bike in Afghanistan, but it spurred her towards the Olympics. Photo: AFP

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Shannon Tan in action during the Ladies Italian Open this month. Photo: Ladies European Tour

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Wong Ka-lee (in white) and younger brother and sparring partner Wong Ka-ki in action at a demonstration. Photo: Mike Chan

Wong with her framed letter confirming her Paris Olympics spot. Photo: Mike Chan

Wong (centre) with coach Cheung Man-chung (right) and younger brother Wong Ka-ki. Photo: Mike Chan

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Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto, who won the gold medal in the all-round final at the world championships last year, will try to defend the Olympic title he won on home soil three years ago. Photo: AP

Hashimoto became the youngest men’s all-around champion in Olympic history when he won gold at the age of 19 in Tokyo. Photo: Reuters

Paris Olympics: badminton gold to Hong Kong? That is Lee Cheuk-yiu’s unapologetic target

Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk-yiu has his eye on the top step of the podium in Paris. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Swimmer Cindy Cheung and shuttler Lee Cheuk-yiu model Hong Kong’s Games tracksuits. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Sport

Other Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

Asia

The 22-year-old South Korean is reigning world and Asian Games champion and ranked number one but is missing an Olympic medal


Aged just 22, South Korean is the reigning world and Asian Games champion and ranked number one but is missing an Olympic medal


Badminton World Federation (BWF)

Paris

Chen Yufei

Paris Olympics 2024: badminton No 1 An Se-young says Games medal is ‘final piece of puzzle’

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}The 22-year-old South Korean is reigning world and Asian Games champion and ranked number one but is missing an Olympic medal

The 22-year-old South Korean is reigning world and Asian Games champion and ranked number one but is missing an Olympic medal