Badminton: Top 10 interesting facts from BWF World Tour 2023

Several first-time records were set and reset in the bygone year.

The BWF World Tour 2023 showcased an array of remarkable achievements and unprecedented milestones in badminton’s competitive landscape. Baek Ha Na’s feat as the only shuttler to appear in the finals of all four BWF Super 1000 tournaments stands out, displaying her consistent prowess across high-stakes events.

Equally impressive is Kim Won Ho’s unique accomplishment of contesting two finals at the same HSBC BWF World Tour event at German Open 2023 which highlighted her exceptional skill and resilience on the court, setting a distinct mark in the tournament history.

Moreover, the parity and diversity in winners at the BWF Super 300 events reflected the depth of talent, with 10 distinct players or pairs claiming victory across all 10 men’s singles, women’s singles, and men’s doubles titles, underlining the competitive balance in these tournaments.

An Se Young’s dominance in claiming three BWF Super 750 titles, followed by Chen Yu Fei’s three consecutive win in the same category, showcased exceptional dominance by these players in the women’s singles arena. Additionally, the landmark achievement of the top four seeds reaching the semi-finals in men’s singles at the US Open 2023 marked a historic first in the BWF World Tour, highlighting the strength and depth of the field.

10 interesting facts from BWF World Tour 2023 season

10. Baek Ha Na only player to contest finals of all four BWF Super 1000 tournaments

Baek Ha Na reached the finals of BWF Malaysia Open Super 1000 with her previous partner, Lee Yu Rim. They finished as runners-up in the tournament after suffering a defeat against Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan. At the All England Open Badminton Championships Super 1000, Baek Ha Na paired with Lee So Hee.

The duo ended as runners-up against their compatriots Kim Soyoung and Kong Heeyong. They won the Indonesian Open Super 1000 by defeating Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota. The pair also lost the China Open Super 1000 finals again Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan.

9. Kim Won Ho becomes only player to contest two finals at the same BWF World Tour event

It was at the BWF German Open Super 300 where Kim Won Ho managed to reach the finals in both the men’s doubles and mixed doubles. He won the men’s doubles title with Choi Solgyu against their compatriots Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae, whereas he and Jeong Na Eun ended as runners-up in mixed doubles against Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping.

8. Ten BWF Super 300 events | 10 different men’s singles winners | 10 different women’s singles winners | 10 different men’s doubles winners

Men’s Singles

• Thailand Masters: Lin Chun-Yi
• German Open: NG ka Long Angus
• Swiss Open: Koki Watanabe
• Spain Masters: Kenta Nishimoto
• Orleans Masters: Priyanshu Rajawat
• Taipei Open: Chico Dwi Wardoyo
• US Open: Li Shi Feng
• Hylo Open: Chou Tien Chen
• Korea Masters: Kento Momota
• Syed Modi India International: Chi Yu Jen

Women’s Singles

• Thailand Masters: Zhang Yi Man
• German Open: Akane Yamaguchi
• Swiss Open: Pornpawee Chochuwong
• Spain Masters: Gregoria Mariska Tunjung
• Orleans Masters: Carolina Marin
• Taipei Open: Tai Tzu Ying
• US Open: Supanida Katethong
• Hylo Open: Beiwen Zhang
• Korea Masters: Kim Ga Eun
• Syed Modi India International: Nozomi Okuhara

Men’s Doubles

• Thailand Masters: Daniel Marthin/ Leo Rolly Carnando
• German Open: Kim Won Ho/ Choi Solgyu
• Swiss Open: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/ Chirag Shetty
• Spain Masters: He Ji Ting/ Zhou Hao Dong
• Orleans Masters: Chen Bo Yang/ Liu Yi
• Taipei Open: Man Wei Chong/ Tee Kai Wun
• US Open: Goh Sze Fei/ Nur Izzuddin
• Hylo Open: Li Yuchen/ Ou Xuanyi
• Korea Masters: Lee Jhe Hei/ Yang Po Hsuan
• Syed Modi India International: Choong Hon Jian/ Muhammad Haikal

7. An Se Young and Chen Yufei share all six BWF Super 750 women’s singles titles

An Se Young

• India Open S750
• Singapore Open S750
• Japan Open S500

Chen Yufei

• Denmark Open S750
• French Open S750
• China Masters S750

6. Six different shuttlers win men’s singles title at all six BWF Super 750 events

• India Open: Kunlavut Vitidsarn
• Singapore Open: Anthony Sinisuka Ginting
• Japan Open: Viktor Axelsen
• Denmark Open: Weng Hong Yang
• French Open: Jonatan Christie
• China Masters: Kodai Naraoka

5. Top four seeds in men’s singles reach semifinals of a single BWF World Tour event

For the first time since the inception of the BWF World Tour, the top four seeds made the semi-final lineup in a single tournament. It was at the US Open 2023 where Thai shuttler Kunlavut Vitidsarn was seeded one, Chinese Li Shi Feng two, India’s Lakshya Sen three and Taipei’s Lin Chun-Yi four. All of the top four seeded players reached the semifinals with Li Shi Feng clinching the title.

4. Gregoria Mariska Tunjung becomes first Indonesian to win the women’s singles title at a Superseries or BWF World Tour 500 level or above tournament

Tunjung won the Kumamoto Japan Masters 2023 title. She also is the only Indonesian to go an entire tournament without dropping points, a feat she achieved at the Japan Masters.

3. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty becomes first Indians to win a BWF Super 1000 tournament title

By winning the Indonesia Open 2023 title, Satwik-Chirag became the first Indians to win a BWF Super 1000 level tournament. The pair are also the first men’s doubles duo to clinch titles across all levels at the BWF World Tour (300, 500, 750, 1000).

2. An all-Malaysian final in a Superseries or BWF World Tour 500 and above level tournament

It was at the Arctic Open Super 500 where Malaysia’s stalwarts Lee Zii Jia and Ng Tze Yong battled against each other for the title with Lee Zii Jia triumphing his younger compatriot.

1. An Se Young first shuttler to appear in at least five finals in BWF World Tour events

An Se Young contested in German Open Super 300 final, the only S300 tournament she played. She also won the Indonesia Masters, Thailand Open and Korea Open Super 500 tournaments. An Se Young also won the India Open, Singapore Open and Japan Open Super 750 tournaments. She also finished the Malaysia Open as runners-up and won All England Open Badminton Championships and China Open Super 1000 tournaments.

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