Seoul, South Korea, November 2, 2026: Women’s singles world No. 1 An Se Young has withdrawn from the 2026 Kumamoto Masters Japan, choosing to prioritize recovery after a demanding badminton season while keeping her place in this week’s Korea Open.
The 24-year-old South Korean star was included on the withdrawal list for the BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament, scheduled for November 10–15 at the Kumamoto Prefectural General Gymnasium in Japan.
Her absence removes the world’s top-ranked women’s singles player from the competition and gives leading challengers, including Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi and China’s Wang Zhi Yi and Chen Yu Fei, an opportunity to pursue the title without facing the season’s most successful player.
Why Did An Se Young Withdraw From the Kumamoto Masters Japan?
According to South Korean media reports, An’s decision was influenced by the need to manage her physical condition following a demanding competition schedule.
A Korea Badminton Association official confirmed that An had withdrawn from the Kumamoto Masters but remained scheduled to participate in the Korea Open.
The withdrawal follows a particularly busy period for the Olympic champion, who competed at the 2026 Asian Games before traveling to Europe for the Denmark Open and French Open in October.
An won both European tournaments, extending an exceptional season in which she has captured 10 championships.
However, maintaining that level of performance has required considerable physical effort. The South Korean also experienced injury-related interruptions earlier in the season, including a withdrawal at the Japan Open in July.
Rather than competing in consecutive Super 500 tournaments in South Korea and Japan, An is expected to take a break after the Korea Open to prepare for December’s BWF World Tour Finals.
An Se Young’s 13-Title Ambitions Face a Setback
An’s withdrawal also affects her pursuit of another remarkable single-season badminton record.
The South Korean has already won 10 titles in 2026, continuing the dominance that saw her collect 11 championships in 2025.
That 2025 achievement made An the first women’s singles player to win 11 titles in a season and matched the 11-title mark established by Japan’s Kento Momota in men’s singles in 2019.
With the Korea Open and BWF World Tour Finals still on her schedule, An retains an opportunity to finish 2026 with 12 titles if she wins both events.
However, withdrawing from the Kumamoto Masters removes one potential championship from her remaining schedule, ending the possibility of reaching 13 titles through those three tournaments.
For a player who has spent much of the season setting an extraordinary standard in women’s singles, the decision illustrates the importance of balancing competitive ambitions with physical recovery.
Akane Yamaguchi and Chinese Stars Gain Opportunity in Kumamoto
An’s absence significantly changes the outlook for the Kumamoto Masters women’s singles competition.
Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, the world No. 2 and defending champion, is among the leading contenders expected to compete on home soil.
Yamaguchi has endured a difficult recent record against An, losing their last 10 meetings. With the South Korean absent, the Japanese star will have an opportunity to defend her title without potentially facing her familiar rival.
China’s Wang Zhi Yi and Chen Yu Fei are also among the prominent players expected to challenge for the championship.
Other contenders include Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon, Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani and Japan’s rising star Tomoka Miyazaki.
While An’s withdrawal removes the tournament’s biggest name, the remaining field still features several accomplished international players capable of winning the Super 500 title.
Kim Ga Eun and Sim Yu Jin Also Withdraw From Kumamoto Masters
An is not the only South Korean women’s singles player to withdraw from the Japanese tournament.
World No. 13 Kim Ga Eun and world No. 15 Sim Yu Jin have also been listed among the withdrawals.
Kim is reportedly continuing her recovery from injury and will also miss the Korea Open, while Sim is expected to compete in South Korea before skipping the following week’s tournament in Japan.
The withdrawals further reduce South Korea’s presence in the Kumamoto women’s singles draw.
An Se Young to Chase 11th Title at Korea Open 2026
Before taking her scheduled break, An will turn her attention to the Korea Open, which takes place from November 3–8 at Jinnam Gymnasium in Yeosu, South Korea.
The tournament will provide an opportunity for the world No. 1 to compete in front of home supporters and pursue her 11th championship of the season.
A victory would allow An to match her 2025 title total and keep alive the possibility of establishing a new single-season record at the BWF World Tour Finals.
However, her immediate priority will be navigating the Korea Open while managing the physical demands of another tournament.
Following the event, An is expected to focus on recovery ahead of the season-ending World Tour Finals, scheduled for December 8–13.
For now, her withdrawal has opened the door for other women’s singles contenders at the Kumamoto Masters Japan, while badminton fans will be watching closely to see whether the South Korean can add another title to her remarkable 2026 campaign.
Complete Tournament Results
2026 Kumamoto Masters Japan: The tournament is scheduled for November 10–15, 2026. No completed matches are available to report as of November 2.
