An ties season’s best 11 world titles
AN Se-young secures her record-tying 11th title of the year after ruling the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China.
Jade Gao/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
HANGZHOU, China (AFP) — South Korea's An Se-young claimed a record-tying 11th title of the year with victory in the badminton World Tour Finals in Hangzhou on Sunday.
The 2024 Olympic champion beat world number two Wang Zhiyi of China 21-13, 18-21, 21-10 to tie Japanese men's singles player Kento Momota's 2019 record for the most titles won in a calendar year.
An, the world No. 1, ended the grueling 96-minute match limping between points with what appeared to be a left-knee problem, but managed to grind to victory over defending champion Wang.
"Winning my 11th title, I feel really happy and that it's really something for me to be proud of," the 23-year-old said after her victory.
"I'll enjoy this win today."
According to the Badminton World Federation, An also became the first badminton player to win more than $1 million in prize money in a year after banking the $240,000 winner's check, adding to the $763,000 she had already pocketed this season.
Christo Popov became only the third European, and the first Frenchman, to win the season-ending event by overcoming China's world champion Shi Yuqi. 21-19, 21-9.
Shi appeared to struggle with a foot injury throughout and quickly succumbed after a tight first game.
Popov, who hadn't won a tour title all year and was an underdog coming into the tournament, defeated Olympic silver-medalist Kunlavut Vitidsarn and world No. 3 Anders Antonsen on his way to glory in the season-ending event.
"It was an amazing week,” Popov said.
"Very happy to win the first title for France and I'm hoping for many more to come."
South Korea enjoyed more success in the doubles as women's pair Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee defeated Japan's Mayu Matsumoto and Yuki Fukushima 21-17, 21-11.
And world champions Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae defeated China's Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang 21-18, 21-14, in the men's event.
The home crowd did have something to cheer earlier in the day, when mixed doubles pair Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping overcoming compatriots Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin 21-12, 21-17.