Japanese badminton player Chiharu Shida has publicly requested that her Chinese fans respect her privacy and cease stalking her. She expressed that their actions have caused her significant discomfort and fear.

Shida, who is often called the "most beautiful player" in China, is currently participating in the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China. In a recent Instagram post, she revealed that the harassment has been ongoing for over a year and a half. She thanked her fans for their support but specifically asked them to stop the stalking and similar behaviors.

The athlete, who won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in women's doubles, did not specify who she meant by "we." She acknowledged that not all fans are involved in this behavior and expressed her fondness for China and appreciation for her fans' support. She emphasized the need to stop the stalking immediately and stated that she would have to consider further action if the situation continues. She concluded by asking fans to focus on her performance in the stadium rather than her private life.

This is not the first time Shida has raised concerns about harassment. In November 2023, she reported being stalked and touched inappropriately by fans during a tournament in Shenzhen. Her comments prompted a rare statement from the Chinese Olympic Committee condemning what it described as "obsessive fan culture." The committee warned that such behavior disrupts competitions and harms public order and sporting ethics.

The statement followed incidents involving Chinese fans, including verbal abuse of judges at a diving competition and a stalking incident involving table tennis star Fan Zhendong. Fan had previously appealed for privacy after being swarmed by fans in a hotel lobby and reprimanded fans for similar behavior at an airport.

China's internet regulators have increased efforts to curb toxic fan behavior in sports. They have removed millions of illegal posts and shut down thousands of online accounts. The crackdown targets online harassment, doxxing, and profiteering under the guise of fandom. The main violations include online abuse campaigns, sensationalizing athlete behavior, and impersonating athletes or coaches for profit.

Similar concerns around athlete safety have been raised by other athletes. British tennis star Emma Raducanu recently spoke about being distressed during a match after spotting a stalker in the crowd. The man has since been given a restraining order and banned from future events.