An Se-young (Samsung Life Insurance), the star of South Korean women's singles badminton, has withdrawn from the 2026 Japan Open Badminton Championships due to pain in her left foot.

An was scheduled to compete in the round of 16 against Nozomi Okuhara (ranked 11th, Japan) at the 2026 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Japan Open, currently being held in Tokyo, Japan.

However, according to the Badminton Korea Association today, An felt pain in the outer part of her left foot during her round of 32 match in the tournament. Although she continued to monitor her condition after the match, she ultimately decided to withdraw from the tournament today.

The affected area is a spot where she has experienced recurring pain during past training sessions and matches.

It is reported that An is currently experiencing discomfort and pain even when putting weight on her left foot.

An, who won gold medals for two consecutive weeks at the Singapore Open and the Indonesia Open in June, had aimed for consecutive victories by participating in this tournament and next week's China Open following a month of rest. However, she is left to face disappointment due to the injury.

Having ended her tournament run early, An is set to return home. Immediately upon her arrival, she plans to visit a hospital for a detailed examination to determine the exact extent of her injury.

(Photo: Yonhap News)