South Korea’s badminton gold medalist An Se-young had a less than celebratory return from the Paris Olympics, facing a barrage of questions at Incheon Airport about her critical remarks towards the Korean Badminton Association and the national team management. An, who triumphed in the women’s singles final by defeating China’s He Bingjiao, has voiced her frustrations over what she perceives as long-standing mistreatment within the team.
An’s victory marked South Korea’s first Olympic gold in badminton singles in 28 years, a milestone overshadowed by her allegations starting from her joining the national team seven years ago. She highlighted a specific incident in May, criticizing a misdiagnosis of her injury which she disclosed on Instagram, claiming she had to continue playing through pain as the Olympics approached.
The badminton champion revealed that her right patellar tendon partially ruptured during the Hangzhou Asian Games last October, worsening her condition. An expressed disappointment with the national team’s handling of her injuries, accusing them of poor management.
In defense, the Korean Badminton Association issued a 10-page statement denying her claims, stating that An underwent five weeks of rehabilitation with her team, Samsung Life Sports, and competed in international tournaments at her insistence. They also noted providing her with a dedicated trainer since February to manage her injuries and sent an Eastern medicine doctor to Paris after a subsequent injury.
An also criticized the preferential treatment she believes doubles players receive over singles competitors in terms of medical care and training. She argued for a systematic separation in training methods and coaching for singles and doubles players.
In response to her allegations, the association promised to review the training methods and exercise programs to ascertain the validity of her complaints. This situation has prompted the Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry, along with the Korea Sport and Olympic Committee, to launch investigations into the badminton association and other sports disciplines following the Games.
The controversy has resonated widely, with past incidents of athlete mistreatment in South Korea coming to light, including severe allegations in other sports. The public has rallied behind An, showing significant support on social media and calling for changes within the badminton community.
An remains hopeful for the progress of badminton in South Korea but insists on reflecting on the systemic issues that have led to the current state of the sport. Her outspoken stance has sparked national debate on athlete treatment and governance in South Korean sports.
