[위키트리 광주전남취재본부 노해섭 기자]“Wow! It’s really Ahn Se-young!”
On the morning of the 14th, a gym in Naju, Jeollanam-do was filled with the shouts of children. This is because Ahn Se-young, the world’s best badminton queen and ‘Naju’s daughter’ who was only seen on TV screens, made a surprise appearance in front of her hometown juniors.
On this day, the last day of the ‘Ahn Se-young Youth Badminton Class’ hosted by the Naju City Sports Council, Ahn visited his hometown despite his busy schedule and made unforgettable memories with aspiring students.
◆ “Swing with confidence even if you make a mistake”
Ahn Se-young attended the closing ceremony and gave 1:1 one-point lessons to 30 elementary school students while making eye contact with them. From how to hold the racket to each step, the know-how of the world’s No. 1 player was taught at the children’s level.
To a child who missed the shuttlecock because he was nervous, Ahn gave warm encouragement, saying, “It’s okay to make mistakes. It’s important to swing confidently.” One student who received direct instruction from Ahn could not hide his excitement, saying, “It feels like a dream to have a national team member correct my posture.”
◆ “The secret to a long run is having fun”
During the mentoring session that followed after the training, questions poured in from children and parents. When asked how to overcome a slump, Ahn gave sincere advice, saying, “Consistence is the greatest talent, and having fun is the secret to becoming a long-lasting player.”
Player Ahn said, “The club activities I did in Naju when I was young made me who I am today,” and added, “I hope that among the friends I met today, future national team members will be on the court with me.”
Naju Mayor Yoon Byeong-tae said, “Ahn Se-young’s participation is providing a strong role model effect for children,” and emphasized, “We will spare no effort in providing administrative and financial support so that Naju can become a cradle of sports talent in Korea by regularizing intensive training during vacations and expanding sports infrastructure.”
date: 2026-02-14 16:43:00
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