An Se-young named top female badminton player for 3rd straight year

South Korea badminton star An Se-young has been named the world's top women's singles player for the third straight year. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) recognized An as its Women's Singles Player of the Year during the annual BWF World Tour Finals Gala Dinner on Monday in Hangzhou, China. An, world No. 1, has claimed 10 international titles in 2025, becoming the first women's singles player to reach double figures in wins in a season. She first earned the annual award in 2023 after winning the Asian Games gold medal in Hangzhou and then repeated the feat in 2024 as the reigning Olympic champion. An will go for win No. 11 of the season at the World Tour Finals starting Wednesday. Also on Monday, the South Korean men's doubles team of Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho was honored as the Men's Doubles Pair of the Year. Reunited this year after previously playing together from 2017 to 2018, Seo and Kim claimed 10 titles on the BWF World Tour and won the world title in France in August.