An Seyoung Achieves 'Career Grand Slam' Despite Injury... The Secret Behind Her Success Was 'Recovery Management'

After winning the Asian Championship on the 12th, player Ahn Seyoung performed a celebration pointing to the official sponsor logo 'Lephileab Maishin' engraved on her uniform toward the camera.

World No. 1 in women's singles badminton, An Seyoung of Samsung Life Insurance, has set a new milestone in Korean badminton history. By winning the Asian Championship, she has now claimed victory in all four major tournaments, becoming the first singles player to achieve a “career Grand Slam.”

On April 12, An Seyoung triumphed over China's Wang Zhiyi in the women's singles final at the 2026 Asian Badminton Championships held in Ningbo, China. Having already conquered the Olympics, World Championships, and the Asian Games, she completed her set of major titles with this victory.

Immediately after the final, she drew attention by performing a celebration pointing to the chest of her uniform toward the broadcast camera. This gesture is interpreted as an expression of gratitude toward her sponsor who has supported her.

Behind An Seyoung’s achievement was her thorough rehabilitation and condition management. After suffering a torn knee ligament at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, she continued to focus on treatment and recovery, ultimately winning the gold medal despite the adversity.

In the BWF World Tour Finals last December, she briefly stepped off the court due to thigh pain, and the broadcast captured her using Mesin spray at that time. Given the strain on the lower body that is characteristic of badminton, recovery management before and after matches is considered a crucial factor in maintaining performance.

‘Lepilab Mesin’, which An Seyoung used, is a recovery product whose main ingredient is Mesin, an antioxidant functional substance. Mesin is a natural flavonoid known for its excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute succeeded in 2012 in being the first in the world to isolate and purify this ingredient from centipedegrass, a type of warm-season grass. They confirmed its anti-aging function and registered it as a cosmetic ingredient with both domestic authorities and the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) in the United States. To date, 18 related patents have been secured.

The fact that a substance developed as part of national technology is now aiding the recovery of national team athletes and playing a significant role in maintaining their performance adds to its significance.

Lee Sangyoon, CEO of Lepilab, the official sponsor of the Badminton Korea Association, stated, “It is highly meaningful that a product based on technology from a national research institute can contribute to maintaining the condition of national athletes. We will continue to provide ongoing support to help ensure their stable performance.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.