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On October 14th, South Korean media reported that Olympic champion An Se Young has won her battle against the Korea Badminton Association (KBA), earning the “right to choose her shoes” in international competitions. She is now allowed to wear shoes of her choice instead of those from the team sponsor, Yonex. However, this autonomy is only a temporary privilege granted by the KBA.
Currently, the South Korean national badminton team is sponsored by Yonex, and according to regulations, An Se Young, as a member of the national team, is expected to wear Yonex gear during international events.
However, during the recent 2024 Korean National Sports Festival, An Se Young was spotted wearing ASICS badminton shoes, while her jersey and socks were from a domestic Korean brand.
This does not mean that An Se Young can follow the path of former star Lin Dan, who once partially detached from the national team to seek his own sponsors.
The KBA explained that the temporary permission allowing An Se Young to wear non-sponsored shoes in training and competitions was granted due to the public outcry after her Olympic victory, where she criticized the KBA, as well as her personal complaints about the discomfort of the Yonex shoes.
The KBA also stated, “We are making every effort to develop custom badminton shoes that meet An Se Young’s satisfaction, and we are in close discussions with our sponsor Yonex regarding the selection of gear for all national team players.”
As a result, An Se Young will be wearing shoes from another brand during the upcoming 2024 Denmark Open, but this arrangement is temporary.
