In a spectacular display of skill and dedication, Chinese badminton athletes dominated the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Player of the Year Awards 2024 held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, on Monday.
Shi Yuqi earned his first year-end accolade as the Men's Singles Player of the Year. Having ascended to World No. 1 in June, surpassing Denmark's Viktor Axelsen, Shi clinched four titles at the India, France, Singapore, and Indonesia Opens. Reflecting on his achievements, Shi remarked, \"I feel good because this is recognition for my year's worth of hard work. I was more spirited this year and performed better, especially in team events. I was determined to do well and I achieved good results.\"
South Korean star An Se-young made a significant impact by being named both the Women's Singles Player of the Year and the Players' Player of the Year on the women's side, becoming the only player to walk away with two trophies. An expressed her gratitude, stating, \"I didn't expect I'd receive so much support from other players. I'm delighted to get this award. Lee Yong-dae, my idol, told me 'you have so much to celebrate today'. I'm so happy. I have so many people standing by me supporting me and they are my biggest motivation.\"
Other notable winners from the Chinese team include:
- Men's Doubles Player of the Year: Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang
- Women's Doubles Player of the Year: Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning
- Mixed Doubles Player of the Year: Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping
- Men's Para Badminton Player of the Year: Qu Zimo
- Women's Para Badminton Player of the Year: Liu Yutong and Li Fengmei
International winners included Hikmat Ramdani and Leani Ratri Oktila from Indonesia as the Para Badminton Pair of the Year, Alex Lanier from France as the Rising Star of the Year, and Viktor Axelsen from Denmark as the Players' Player of the Year (Men).
The dominance of Chinese shuttlers at the BWF Awards underscores the country's growing prowess in the sport, setting high expectations for the upcoming seasons.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
