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Today, badminton star Aya Ohori announced her retirement at the end of this year via her personal Instagram. The upcoming Kumamoto Masters, starting on November 12, will be her last international tournament in Japan.
Aya Ohori’s Statement:
“Hello everyone, I have an important announcement. I have decided to retire at the end of this year.
My badminton career hasn’t always been smooth, but thanks to the support of so many wonderful friends, I have overcome numerous challenges.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Tonami Transportation Badminton Club for their help over the years. My sincere gratitude goes to the Nippon Badminton Association, all my sponsors, my family, friends, and all supporters. Without you, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have today.
Badminton has taught me a lot, and I’ve experienced many wonderful things through it. I truly love playing badminton, so deciding to retire was not easy. However, I can say that, with everyone’s support, my 22-year career has been filled with joy.
Next week’s Kumamoto Masters will be my last international match in Japan. I’d be thrilled if you continue to cheer for me. Thank you so much for your warm support over the years.”
Previous Reports:
For the past two years, rumors have circulated about Aya Ohori and Malaysian men’s doubles player Ong Yew Sin being in a relationship.
Both players recently participated in the 2024 Indonesia Badminton All-Star Invitational. Fans spotted two intriguing moments: first, as Ong Yew Sin interacted with a medal-winning player, a female player beside him pointed at Aya Ohori and whispered something to Ong Yew Sin, leading Aya Ohori to playfully touch Ong Yew Sin’s head. In another instance, Cheuk Yiu Lee, sitting beside Aya Ohori in the cheer section, smiled while pointing at Ong Yew Sin in the aisle and then at Aya Ohori, hinting at a relationship.
There have been previous reports from insiders in the badminton community suggesting that Aya Ohori and Ong Yew Sin have been quietly dating for years. This event at the Indonesia All-Star added fuel to fan speculation.
Standing at 169 cm, Aya Ohori first traveled to Malaysia in 2015 to participate in the Purple League. In an interview, she mentioned how warm and friendly Malaysians were, even telling her parents that she hoped to settle in Malaysia after retirement and marry a Malaysian.
It seems possible that Aya Ohori and Ong Yew Sin have known each other for a long time.
Later, Ong Yew Sin shared a photo on his Instagram featuring himself with Aya Ohori and Arisa Higashino. Fans noted that Ong Yew Sin and Aya Ohori‘s hands were unusually close.
Today, a Malaysian social media account further fueled rumors by posting a photo of Ong Yew Sin and Aya Ohori allegedly wearing matching outfits while shopping, captioned: “An open secret, best wishes to you both.”
In 2020, Ong Yew Sin and his partner Teo Ee Yi were dismissed from the Malaysian national team by the Badminton Association of Malaysia. However, their performance continued to improve, with a bronze at the 2021 World Championships. Despite this, they have not won a title since their victory at the 2020 Thailand Masters, with their best results this year being semifinal finishes at the German and China Opens.
Aya Ohori, a late bloomer, became Japan’s second women’s singles player after Nozomi Okuhara struggled with injuries. Last year, she won a bronze medal in women’s singles at the Asian Games, and this year, she claimed gold at the Thailand Masters and Australia Open, as well as reaching the semi-finals at the Super 1000 China Open.
