Source:Sipa USA/Sydney
[Saba Sports News] During the 2025 Japan Masters Badminton Round of 16, Arisa Higashino / Chiharu Shida announced their withdrawal from the tournament. Originally, Arisa Higashino was injured in the right arm after being hit by Chiharu Shida’s swing during practice before the tournament. Although the pair won their first-round match, Higashino was later diagnosed with a contusion at the hospital. Consequently, the pair decided to withdraw from the second round. Yesterday, Chiharu Shida attended a fan meeting organized by her team and gave an interview after the event. Shida expressed that the accident during practice was indeed regrettable, but they had to accept it since it happened. She believed that the best choice now is to let Higashino rest and prepare fully for the next tournament. The hospital stated that it would be serious if the injury led to any sequelae; after discussion, the team wanted to avoid such an extreme situation. Shida also revealed that they had participated in six tournaments together, and their coordination was gradually improving. They originally intended to try some new tactics in this tournament but didn’t expect the accident to occur. After the injury, Higashino was very gentle and did not show frustration. Regarding next week’s Australia Open Badminton, Shida revealed that it is undecided whether they will participate.