32 Minutes to Victory, Then Heartbreak: World No. 1 An Se-young Withdraws from Japan Open with Foot Injury

It looked like she was about to plant the Korean flag in Tokyo once again. World No. 1 An Se-young (Samsung Life) demolished a young Japanese opponent in just 32 minutes to advance to the Round of 16 at the 2026 BWF Japan Open — but a recurring pain in her left foot forced her to withdraw before she could go any further. For a player who has already lifted five trophies in 2026 alone, this unexpected setback is a gut punch. And with the Asian Games just around the corner in September, fans have every reason to be worried.

A Dominant Win, Then a Sudden Withdrawal

On July 14 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, An Se-young dismantled Japanese newcomer Akechi Hina 2-0 (21-6, 21-9) in the women’s singles Round of 32. From the very first shuttle, she controlled every corner of the court, taking the opening game by a staggering 15-point margin and never once surrendering the advantage in the second. Total time on court: 32 minutes. It was yet another reminder of why she carries the world’s top ranking.

But during the match, a familiar pain crept back into the outer side of her left foot. When the discomfort refused to subside after the game, the Korea Badminton Association officially announced her withdrawal from the Round of 16, where she was scheduled to face Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara (World No. 11). The association confirmed that the affected area had “experienced repeated pain during training and competition in the past.” Unable to put her full weight on the foot, An Se-young returned to Korea early for further medical evaluation.

Five Titles in 2026 — a Season Almost Too Good to Believe

What makes this withdrawal sting even more is just how dominant An Se-young has been this year. She kicked off 2026 with back-to-back titles at the Malaysia Open and India Open in January, then kept the momentum rolling with victories at the Asia Championships in April, the Singapore Open in May, and the Indonesia Open in June. That’s five tournament wins in a single season — with her only defeat being a runner-up finish at the All England Open. By almost any measure, her 2026 campaign has been near-flawless.

Heading into Japan, she had spent a full month resting and sharpening her game, with plans to chase back-to-back wins at this event and then the China Open (Changzhou, starting July 21). That blueprint just got torn up — all because of one troublesome foot.

The Real Concern: September’s Asian Games

The timing of this injury couldn’t be more nerve-wracking. The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are set for September, and An Se-young is chasing history. After claiming the women’s singles gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games — the first Korean woman to do so since Bang Soo-hyun — she is now aiming to become the first female shuttler ever to win back-to-back singles gold at the Asian Games. A second straight team gold is also on the agenda.

The fact that her left foot has been a recurring problem for years only deepens the concern. The Korea Badminton Association says a decision on whether she’ll compete at the China Open will depend on the results of her medical examination and how quickly she recovers. If this injury lingers, it could eat directly into her Asian Games preparation — making this far more than just a routine withdrawal from a single tournament.

The Paradox of Being Unstoppable

In a way, this situation reveals the hidden risk that comes with being as dominant as An Se-young. In 2025, she tied the all-time record for most BWF World Tour titles in a single season with 11 wins — across both men’s and women’s circuits. This year, she has reached the final of every tournament she’s entered. That kind of relentless excellence puts an enormous amount of stress on the body, and eventually, the weakest link gives way. For An Se-young, that link has always been her left foot.

Over the coming weeks, the question on every badminton fan’s mind will be one thing only: how fast can she recover? The sight of such a commanding, 32-minute victory giving way to a withdrawal nobody saw coming is a sobering reminder that even the world’s best athlete has limits. The road to an unprecedented Asian Games double gold just got a little steeper — and a lot more uncertain.