Anthony Sinisuka Ginting becomes first player in 20 years to defend men's singles title at Singapore Open 2023

This was also the third consecutive final for the Indonesian at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Anthony Sinisuka Ginting has become the first men's singles player since China's Chen Hong in 2002-2003 to successfully defend his title at the Singapore Open. Ginting beat Denmark's Anders Antonsen 21-16, 21-13 in 40 minutes to clinch the men's singles honours at Singapore Open 2023, becoming the first man in 20 years to retain his singles title.

This was the Indonesian's third title at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and first trophy in the BWF World Tour this season. He also won the men's singles title at the Asian Championships 2023, beating Singapore's Loh Kean Yew in straight games to become the Asian champion in men's singles for the first time in his career.

The title at the Singapore Open 2023 also took Ginting to World No. 2 in men's singles, matching the career-best ranking he achieved in January earlier this year.

Ginting is also the first since Chen Hong of China to retain the men's singles title. The former World No. 1 Chinese won his first Singapore Open title after beating home favourite Ronald Susilo in 2002. A year later, Hong defeated compatriot Chen Yu in three games to win consecutive titles at the Singapore Open 2023. He also reached the Singapore Open men's singles final in 2005 but was beaten by Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat.

The world No.2 Ginting was serene as he defeated Denmark's Anders Antonsen 21-16, 21-13 within 40 minutes, preventing his challenger's hostile shot-making via ensured court skill and never appearing struggling, contrary to Antonsen, who shocked world No.4 Kodai Naraoka in the semi-finals.

The Indonesian player first gained notoriety after winning a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games. Anthony Sinisuka Ginting earned bronze in the men's singles event at the 2020 Olympic Games and became the first Youth Olympic badminton medalist to win a medal at the Olympics, having previously won bronze in 2014. The 26-year-old was part of Indonesia's winning team in the 2020 Thomas Cup.

Ginting began the 2023 season at the Malaysia Open but was upset in the quarter-finals by Japanese player Kanta Tsuneyama. The following week, he advanced to the semi-finals of the India Open but was beaten by 8th-seed Thai player Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

He competed in his home competition, the Indonesia Masters, but was eliminated in the following round by Chinese player Shi Yuqi. However, following his third consecutive final in Singapore, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting looks confident to accomplish more titles in 2023.