An Se-young has made Asian Games history after successfully defending her women's singles title, becoming the first woman to win two singles gold medals in the competition.
The South Korean world No. 1 produced a commanding performance against Japan's home favourite Akane Yamaguchi on Tuesday, winning 21-17, 21-9 to add another major title to her growing list of achievements.
An Se-young controlled the final from the outset and pulled away decisively in the second game. After sealing the victory, the 24-year-old dropped to her knees on court, describing the moment as "like a dream."
The gold medal adds to an already impressive run for An Se-young, who is also the reigning Olympic and world champion. She has remained unbeaten since March, further underlining her position at the top of the women's game.
While An Se-young enjoyed a historic night, the wider Asian Games continued to face disruptions caused by heavy rain and logistical problems.
Source: Aktualita.co
Persistent downpours affected several sports for a second straight day, with cricket, tennis and softball among the events hit by the weather. In men's cricket, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh reached the semi-finals without playing a single ball after their respective quarter-final matches were washed out. They joined India and Pakistan, who had also advanced without taking to the field the previous day.
The men's cricket semi-finals are scheduled for Thursday, with Sri Lanka facing India and Bangladesh taking on Pakistan. Organizers now face the challenge of preparing the rain-affected grounds in time for the matches.
Transport problems also added to the difficulties. Asian Games organizers issued an apology after several teams encountered issues with buses and venues.
South Korea's men's volleyball team was forced to cancel a training session after being taken to the wrong venue, while Pakistan's football match against Uzbekistan was delayed by 45 minutes because of an incorrect bus route.
Officials attributed the problems to "an error in matching teams to vehicles" and said steps would be taken to prevent similar incidents.
With improved weather expected, organizers will be hoping conditions settle as the Games continue. For An Se-young, however, the focus remains firmly on the court after another historic chapter in her career.
