A screenshot of Li-Ning Badminton's Sina Weibo post

Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning said Friday that it has learned that badminton player Chen Yufei had a sudden injury on her toe in a national match while she was wearing Li-Ning shoes. The company has contacted Chen to further follow up on the injury and the situation.

"Professional sports protection has always been the focus of Li-Ning," the company's badminton branch said on its Sina Weibo account on Friday, after Chen's injury raised public concern.

Chen suffered a scratch on her right big toe during the National Games of China on Thursday, where she had a difficult win.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed the injury on its Sina Weibo account on Thursday.

A screenshot of Badminton World Federation's Sina Weibo post about badminton player Chen Yufei's injury

"In the first round, the front of my shoe somehow opened up, and something like wire or thread sliced my foot open," the BWF quoted Chen as saying.

The post was accompanied by a photo of a cut on Chen's big toe.

The shoe that scratched Chen's toe looks like the Li-Ning women's Gyrfalcon IV lite badminton training shoes that the company produced this year. 

According to the product description, the shoe uses a wear-resistant material called TUFF TIP, which is applied to the upper toe area and claims to prevent premature wear and thus extend the life of the shoe. 

The shoes are priced at 1,099 yuan ($170.7) on Li-Ning's website.

Li-Ning's badminton branch said on September 4 that it supported the training of seven provincial-level badminton teams to help them win the gold medal, including Chen's team from East China's Zhejiang province.

Global Times