BWF World Tour Finals 2023: Viktor Axelsen lifts fifth men's singles title, Tai Tzu Ying becomes women's champion

This was Axelsen’s third successive title in the competition.

The final day of BWF World Tour Finals 2023 produced thrilling matches with world no.1 in men’s singles Viktor Axelsen finishing things off in style by retaining his title beating home favourite Shi Yuqi in straight games (21-11, 21-12). In the women’s singles category, Tai Tzu Ying got the better of Carolina Marin in three games (12-21, 21-14, 21-18).

Marin had a positive start to the final by winning the opening game with ease (21-12). However, her opponent from Chinese Taipei did not hold back and came back strongly to win the next two games. Tai Tzu Ying was trailing at the mid-game interval but opened her wide range of shots taking Marin by surprise. A shift in momentum post the mid-game interval saw the four-time champion take the match to the decider.

The decider started with both shuttlers exchanging points but once again it was Tai Tzu Ying who stepped on the accelerator and surged ahead with flurry of points and in the end emerged victorious. In the semifinals, the former world no.1 saved four match points against reigning world champion An Se Young to progress for the final.

Later in day, Viktor Axelsen did not have to sweat much as he registered a comfortable win against 2018 champion Shi Yuqi. With this Axelsen has five season-ending titles (taking into consideration the World Series final) and moves ahead of Lee Chong Wei to occupy the top spot who has four year-ending titles.

In the doubles section, Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae added one more major title to their cabinet this year. They beat world no.1 Weikeng/Wang Chang in straight games (21-17, 22-20). The Chinese pair came into the tournament as one of the favourites having won China Masters two-weeks prior. Meanwhile, Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae end the year on a high and finish the season by winning the world championships and BWF World Tour Finals title.

Chinese pairing of Chen Qing Chen/Jia Yi Fan and Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping came out all guns blazing and succeeded in the women’s and mixed doubles category.

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