NINGBO – South Korea’s An Se-young became the first women’s singles player to complete a sweep of major titles after she won her first Badminton Asia Championships crown on April 12.

The world No. 1 saw off home favourite and second-ranked Wang Zhiyi 21-12, 17-21, 21-18 in a gruelling 100-minute slog in front of a partisan crowd at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center in north-eastern China.

The career sweep comprises the sport’s major international and continental titles. For An, this means the Olympics, world championships, World Tour Finals, All England Open, Asian Games and Asian championships.

The only players who have ever achieved the feat are China’s Lin Dan and Dane Viktor Axelsen in the men’s singles; China’s Ge Fei and Gu Jun as well as Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan in the women’s doubles; and compatriots Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong in the mixed doubles.

At 24, An is the youngest player to achieve the feat.

Said An: “From the moment I arrived in Ningbo, I constantly heard that the Asian Championships trophy was the final missing piece in my hall of honour.

“I was aware of it and felt the pressure. But I kept telling myself, ‘Focus only on this moment, on the next match’. Now, I can finally say: ‘I did it, and I’ve kept pushing forward without stopping’.”

The first game was relatively even and was tied 7-7 early on, before An took the lead which she did not relinquish.

The second stanza saw the 25-year-old Wang take an 8-2 lead. An fought back to narrow the deficit to 13-11 but the Chinese took seven of the next 10 points before sealing things on her fourth game point.

An threatened to make the decider a formality, opening up a 13-7 lead. But a defiant Wang fought back to level proceedings at 15-15.

An won the next four points but again Wang, with a frenzied home crowd roaring her on, battled back to come within one point of An...