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World No.1 An Se-young admits concentration struggles at Asian Games

South Korea's badminton champion An Se-young has acknowledged difficulties maintaining focus during competition at the Asian Games, attributing the issue partly to audible distractions from spectators.

LSN Singapore · 23 September 2026

World No.1 An Se-young admits concentration struggles at Asian Games

An Se-young, ranked the world's top badminton player, has revealed that her ability to hear crowd noise during matches at the Asian Games indicates a troubling lapse in concentration. The South Korean shuttler's candid assessment suggests she is struggling to achieve the mental clarity required for peak performance at the regional tournament.

The 22-year-old's observation underscores the mental demands of elite badminton competition, where split-second focus can determine the outcome of rallies worth tournament points. An's awareness of external noise—including spectators around her—points to concentration lapses that could prove costly against top-ranked opponents.

An's acknowledgement of these focus challenges comes as she competes in one of Asia's most prestigious sporting events. The remarks suggest the athlete is actively monitoring her mental performance and identifying areas requiring improvement to maintain her world No.1 ranking.