안세영 이끈 한국 여자 배드민턴 대표팀, 우버컵 2026 첫 경기 5-0 승리 – 세계정상 탈환 향한 힘찬 발걸음

South Korea’s women’s badminton team began their 2026 Uber Cup campaign with a dominant 5-0 victory over Spain in the group stage opener held in Horsens, Denmark on Friday, April 24, 2026. The win marked a strong start to their bid to reclaim the world team title for the first time since 2022.

World number one An Se-young led the charge in the opening singles match, defeating Spain’s Clara Azurmendi 21-14 in the first game before securing the overall victory. Azurmendi, ranked 84th globally, offered initial resistance as the pair were locked at 6-6 early on, but An Se-young pulled away with a decisive run of points, taking a 15-10 lead before closing out the game comfortably.

The Uber Cup, officially the World Women’s Team Badminton Championships, follows a format of three singles and two doubles matches, with the first team to reach three wins claiming the victory. South Korea’s strategy relied heavily on An Se-young delivering the crucial opening point to set the tone for the remaining matches.

South Korea, placed in Group D, is targeting a return to the summit after their last title in 2022. The team is seen as a leading contender alongside traditional powerhouses China, Japan, and Indonesia, with China holding the defending champion status. The Korean women’s team previously won the Uber Cup in 2010 and 2022, while the men’s team has yet to capture the Thomas Cup.

An Se-young has a strong historical record against Azurmendi, having defeated her in straight games at both the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 Denmark Open. Her consistent performance against the Spanish player reinforced South Korea’s confidence in their top singles player’s ability to deliver under pressure.

The victory over Spain represents the first step in South Korea’s campaign to regain the Uber Cup, with the team aiming to build momentum through the group stage and into the knockout rounds. Their next challenge will come from other group opponents as they seek to finish atop Group D and advance to the quarterfinals.