The presidential office on Tuesday called for a thorough review of the allegations made by the Paris Olympics gold medalist, who accused the team of mishandling her knee injury and prioritizing doubles players over singles.
In a press release, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it will investigate the circumstances surrounding the allegations raised by An. The ministry said it will look into the matter after the Paris Olympics conclude and determine if any changes are needed in how it manages athletes.
An, fresh off her Olympic gold medal, leveled harsh criticism at the national team in media interviews Monday, accusing it of mismanagement and a system that favors doubles players over singles.
An, 22, said a knee injury sustained at last year’s Asian Games was misdiagnosed and poorly handled, forcing her to play through pain for weeks. She said the national team's focus on doubles players led to inadequate training and support for singles athletes like herself.
The Olympic champion described a rigid training regimen, outdated weightlifting programs, and a lack of communication between athletes and coaches. An said she was often left out of tournament lineups without explanation.
“I hope people at the association and the national Olympic committee will take responsibility for these problems, instead of avoiding them,” An said.
Her comments sparked a national conversation about the challenges faced by South Korean athletes at the highest level, and the alleged poor management of the Badminton Korea Association.
