In a display of sheer dominance, South Korea’s An Se-young stormed into the India Open Super 750 final after demolishing Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon in just 32 minutes. The world number one wasted no time, securing a 21-9, 21-10 victory in the women’s singles semi-final at the KD Jadav Indoor Hall in New Delhi.
An’s precision and power overwhelmed Intanon from the outset. The Thai shuttler, once a formidable force in the circuit, struggled to find her rhythm against the relentless Korean. Se-young’s aggressive net play and unerring smashes left Intanon chasing shadows, as the first game concluded in a mere 14 minutes.
The second game followed a similar script. Intanon mounted brief resistance, but An’s superior footwork and tactical acumen shut down every comeback attempt. This emphatic win marks An’s third consecutive final appearance in the BWF World Tour this season, underscoring her status as the player to beat.
Intanon, ranked 22nd globally, cited fatigue from a grueling schedule as a factor but graciously acknowledged her opponent’s superiority. ‘An is playing at another level right now,’ she said post-match.
Se-young now awaits the winner of the semi-final between China’s Han Yue and Denmark’s Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt. With her eyes set on the title, An reflected on her performance: ‘I focused on maintaining consistency and exploiting her weaknesses.’ Fans are in for a thrilling final on Sunday, as the Korean aims to cap off a stellar week in the Indian capital.
