World No. 1 An Se Young ended South Korea’s 28-year-long wait for a singles gold medal in badminton at the Olympics as she beat China’s He Bingjiao 21-13, 21-16 at Porte de La Chapelle Arena in Paris on Monday.
An, the reigning world champion and Asian Games gold medallist, became only the second Korean woman to win a singles medal after Bang Soo-hyun. Bang took silver in Barcelona in 1992 when badminton made its Olympic debut as a medal sport before bagging gold four years later in Atlanta.
Overall, this is only the fourth singles medal for Korea and first since Shon Seung-mo won silver in the men’s category in Athens in 2004.
An’s gold medal is the 11th of the ongoing edition for South Korea, which takes it past Great Britain to fifth spot on the medals table.
“My golden age isn’t here yet because I’m still young,” said the 22-year-old An.
“I will still have more experiences and I will be able to play even better.
Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung got the bronze medal after receiving a walkover from Spain’s Carolina Marin. Rio Olympics gold medallist Marin sustained a knee injury which not only forced her to retire from her semifinal against He but also ruled out of the bronze medal match.
The Chinese player stepped onto the medal podium holding a pin badge given to her by the Spanish badminton federation.
She said she was thinking of Marin and “hoping to carry her spirit into the final”.
“I feel sorry for her because she is an outstanding athlete,” said He, who was visibly upset after Marin’s withdrawal.
“I wanted her to watch me and I hope she recovers soon.”
China has won the gold medal in women’s doubles and mixed doubles events while Chines Taipei took the men’s doubles gold. Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, the men’s singles gold medallist from Tokyo, will face Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the current world champion, in the final later in the day.
(With inputs from AFP)
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