China claims BWF 2024 Player of the Year awards with four titles

(ECNS) -- The Badminton World Federation (BWF) unveiled its 2024 Player of the Year award winners during a gala event on Monday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The Chinese national badminton team clinched four major awards, including the prestigious Men’s Singles Player title.

China's Shi Yuqi, currently ranked world No. 1 in men’s singles, was honored as the Men’s Singles Player Of The Year. South Korea’s An Se-young, the reigning women’s singles Olympic champion, was named Best Women’s Singles Player.

In doubles, Chinese players achieved significant recognition. The "Phoenix" duo, Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping, were awarded Mixed Doubles Players of the Year. The "Liang-Wang" pair, Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang, claimed the Men's Doubles Players of the Year, while the "Sheng-Tan" duo, Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning, secured the Women's Doubles Players of the Year.

“This award means our efforts this season were paid. We performed well in several high-profile events, including the Paris Olympics. Although we missed some opportunities towards the year’s end, we aim to achieve even more next year,” Liang remarked.

This year’s awards also included a new category decided by player votes. Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen and South Korea’s An Se-young were selected as Players' Picks for Men’s Player of the Year 2024 and Women’s Player of the Year 2024, respectively. Both of them captured gold in the men’s and women’s singles events at the Paris Olympics.

“I didn’t expect to be so well-regarded by my peers. It’s truly an honor,” An Se-young shared. “Seeing legends like Lee Yong-dae inducted into the Hall of Fame motivates me. I hope to join them someday soon.”

Other notable winners included French rising star Alex Lanier, who received the Eddy Choong Rising Star award. In the para-badminton category, Qu Zimo (WH1) was named Men's Para Badminton Player of the Year 2024, while Liu Yutong (WH2) and Li Fengmei (SH6) shared the Women's Para Badminton of the Year 2024. Indonesian Hikmat Ramdani and Leani Ratri Oktila (SL3-SU5) were recognized as Para Badminton Pair of the Year 2024.