Jan O Jorgensen, Men’s Singles bronze medallist at the World Championships in 2015, has withdrawn from the TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017 due to a recurring heel injury.

The Dane has had an injury-troubled season, playing only three tournaments this year. After losing the second round of the Yonex All England in March, Jorgensen (featured image) skipped all subsequent events before returning to action at the BCA Indonesia Open in June. Although he was combative in a three-game second round loss to eventual champion Kidambi Srikanth, his injury – plantar fasciitis of the right heel – resurfaced the very next week at the Crown Group Australian Open, where he retired in the third game against Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting.

Jorgensen was third in the qualifying list for the World Championships. With his withdrawal, compatriot Emil Host, who was next in line in the reserves’ list, received the invitation, which he has accepted. Holst will join fellow-Danes Viktor Axelsen, Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus and Anders Antonsen as they seek Denmark’s first Men’s Singles title in 20 years. The last Dane to win the title was Peter Rasmussen in 1997.