Chinese Shuttles Star in BWF Awards, Axelsen Earns Peers’ Recognition Despite Injury
The 2024 BWF Awards ceremony saw a spectacular display of Chinese dominance, with players from the nation claiming four out of the five main awards. Though China didn’t secure the Female Player of the Year, the accolades went to South Korea’s An Se-young, who snagged the title for a second consecutive year. This victory caps off a formidable year for the world No. 1, who surpassed Indonesia’s Gregoria Tunjung and China’s Wang Zhiyi and Han Yue to claim the esteemed year-end award.
China’s Shi Yuqi secured Male Player of the Year, solidifying his position as a badminton powerhouse. This triumph capped off an extraordinary season during which he attained the world No. 1 ranking for the first time, played a pivotal role in securing victory for China in the Thomas Cup and added four BWF World Tour titles under his belt.
“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,” said Shi.
Shi beat a talented group vying for the title that included Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen and Anders Antonsen, along with Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien-chen.
## Boxed Out but Still Champion
Despite his absence due to a left foot injury, Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen took home the Players’ Player of the Year award, a testament to his continuing high regard within the sport.
“It means a lot to me,” Axelsen said in a pre-recorded video.
While Axelsen retained his Olympic title at Paris 2024, this was his only victory on the BWF Tour this season, a point of contention for the World No. 3 player, particularly after the BWF requested his medical documentation to waive a US$5,000 fine for withdrawing from the December 11-15 BWF World Tour Finals.
“I gets fined anyway when I send my medical documents when I’m unwell,” Axelsen shared on X, adding another layer of complexity to his absence.
With Axelsen out, competition for the men’s singles title at the World Tour Finals promises to be wide open. His spot in group A will be taken by China’s Li Shifeng (world No. 6) who will now face a tough draw that includes Antonsen (No. 2), Chou (No. 9) and Lee Zii Jia, the world No. 8.
Group B is equally competitive with world No. 4, Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie, Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn (No. 5) and Japan’s Kodai Naraoka (No. 7).
## Up-and-Comer Makes Big Splash
The Eddy Choong Rising Star Award went to France’s Alex Lanier.
At just 19 years old, Lanier has already defeated top players, including Shi, Chou (twice), and Paris Olympic bronze medalist Lee Zii Jia.
On the crownland court, An found herself in a tough Group B alongside China’s Han (No. 8), Thailand’s Supanida Katethong (No. 10) and Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi (No. 4)
Group A comprises a powerhouse roster including China’s Wang (No. 2), Indonesian Tunjung (No. 6), Aya Ohori (No. 9) of Japan and Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan (No. 12).
Two badminton legends and former Olympic champions were inducted into the BWF Hall of Fame, recognizing their remarkable contributions to the sport: Chen Long of China and South Korea’s Lee Yong-dae.
Does Viktor Axelsen’s limited participation in the BWF Tour detracts from the validity of his Players’ Player of the Year award?
Is Viktor Axelsen’s Players’ Player of the Year award a fair reflection of his performance this year, given his limited BWF Tour appearances adn the controversy surrounding his withdrawal from the World Tour Finals?
