KUALA LUMPUR: When South Korean women's singles An Se Young states that she's currently playing at only 70 per cent, her rivals should be concerned.
Despite still grappling with recovery from a right knee injury sustained late last year, the 21-year-old demonstrated resilience by reaching the semi-finals of the Malaysia Open today.
World No. 1 Se Young overcame a first-game blemish to beat Singapore's Yeo Jia Min 16-21, 21-12, 21-19 victory in 62 minutes.
The win marked the first game she conceded this week, following victories over Denmark's Line Kjaersfeldt and Germany's Yvonne Li.
"I am not recovering at the rate I want, but my condition is improving," said Se Young.
"I'm currently operating at 70 per cent of where I was before the injury. I will work hard in each match and tournament to regain my form."
She plays China's Zhang Yi Man, who advanced after beating Akane Yamaguchi 12-21, 21-17, 21-17, in the semi-finals tomorrow.
"As a player, of course, I will always play to win titles. But right now, my priority is to regain my best condition and form more than anything else," said Se Young.
Se Young had a stellar 2023, securing 10 titles out of 13 finals, including victories at the World Championships in Copenhagen, the Asian Games in Hangzhou, and the All England.
She first sustained the right knee injury in Hangzhou but persevered through the pain to become the first South Korean women's singles gold medallist since 1994.
The injury sidelined Se Young for five weeks, causing her to miss the Denmark Open and French Open.
This disruption affected her momentum, and by the time she returned at the Kumamoto Masters, she was no longer dominant.
Despite this, Se Young reached the semi-finals of the Kumamoto Masters in Japan and the World Tour Finals, though she did not perform at her optimal level.
While acknowledging her impatience to return to competition, she clarified that the sheer joy of playing badminton brings her happiness.
"I have thought that I'm a bit impatient. But being able to return to the court makes me happy, so I chose happiness," she said.