An Se Young, the world's top-ranked women's badminton singles player, has decided to put her grueling 'Super 1000 Slam' quest on hold in order to safeguard her health, especially her ailing knee.

On July 26, at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 1000 China Open semi-finals held at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre in China, An faced Han Yue. While An led a tight first game 19-18, she conceded the next three points, allowing a comeback, and found herself in another close contest at 6-6 in the second game. After conceding five consecutive points, An made the difficult decision to retire from the match.

According to the Korea Badminton Association, An had been struggling with cumulative fatigue and worsening condition of her knee. Continuing to compete would have exposed her to the risk of severe injury.

This marks An’s third career loss (against eight wins) to Han Yue. An was on the verge of making history this season with a 'Super 1000 Slam'—winning all four major Super 1000 series events—but ultimately chose to place her physical well-being first.

Despite her withdrawal, An has already claimed titles at the India Open, Japan Open, and Orléans Masters this year, standing atop three Super 1000 podiums in 2025. She had been chasing her seventh title of the season, but will now prioritize rehabbing her knee. The Korean ace will focus all her efforts on preparing for the World Championships, which will be held in Paris this August.

Meanwhile, the women’s doubles team of Kim Hye Jeong and Kong Hee Yong fell short in their China Open semi-final, losing to China’s Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning in straight games, 0-2 (10-21, 12-21), and were unable to secure a spot in the finals.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Yonhap News Agency