Badminton players who made their final appearance at BWF World Tour Finals 2024
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Zheng Siwei concluded his remarkable career with a fourth BWF World Tour Finals title.
The BWF World Tour Finals 2024 was a highly anticipated event that brought together the season’s top seven players and Olympic champions in each category, with a prize pool of $2,500,000. The tournament delivered thrilling clashes and showcased an intense badminton showdown.
Two-time Olympic Champion Viktor Axelsen withdrew from the tournament due to an injury, while women’s Paris Olympic gold medallist An Se-young was defeated by home-favourite and number #1 seed Wang Zhi Yi in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, the mixed doubles champions from Paris, Zheng Siwei and Huang Ya Qiong, lived up to expectations in their last tournament together, winning their fourth World Tour Finals title.
The year-end tournament held in Hangzhou marked the end of an era for badminton, as some of its brightest stars bid farewell to international competition. Starting on December 11, this prestigious event featured emotional exits from players, who have left an indelible mark on the sport’s history. Let’s take a look at the players who made their final appearance at the BWF World Tour Finals 2024:
Also Read: Which player earned how much in prize money at BWF World Tour Finals 2024?
Players who participated in BWF World Tour Finals 2024 for the last time
Zheng Siwei
Zheng Siwei, the Chinese mixed doubles sensation, stunned the badminton world by announcing his retirement just weeks before the tournament. Partnering with Huang Yaqiong, with an Olympic gold and silver medal, and three World Championship titles, the 27-year-old’s career was nothing short of extraordinary.
In a heartfelt social media post, Zheng explained his decision: “I’ve officially decided to step out of the international stage! I know what I love, what I’m good at, and where my goals lie. Winning more titles holds little appeal to me now.”
Having joined the Chinese national setup at 16, Zheng’s dedication to the sport often came at the cost of personal milestones. His retirement reflects a commitment to his family and marks the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
Lee Yang
For Taiwan’s Lee Yang, the BWF World Tour Finals 2024 marked the conclusion of a remarkable career. Alongside Wang Chi-Lin, Lee gained international recognition, most notably by clinching gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo and Paris Olympics 2024.
Their journey came full circle at the World Tour Finals, where they faced their compatriots Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan in Group A—the same pair they competed against in their debut tournament as a duo in 2019. Reflecting on the coincidence, Lee Yang remarked, “It’s destiny. My first match with Chi-Lin was against Jhe-Huei and Po-Hsuan, and now our final match will also be against them.”
Although Lee and Wang triumphed in their final match against their compatriots, their journey in the 2024 World Tour Finals ended in the group stage. Their participation in the tournament was secured by their gold medal victory at the Paris Olympics. The duo had previously captured the BWF World Tour Finals title in 2020.
Aya Ohori
Japan’s Aya Ohori, fondly known as the “Ethereal Goddess,” also announced her retirement at the end of this season. The 28-year-old women’s singles star shared the news with fans in a heartfelt social media post: “Looking back on my 22-year career, filled with happiness thanks to everyone’s support, I feel truly blessed.”
Aya Ohori clinched her first Super Series title at the 2024 Thailand Masters and followed it up with a victory at the 2024 Australian Open, a Super 500 event. She also secured a bronze medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
At the 2024 BWF World Tour Finals, she impressed by winning all her group-stage matches, defeating Indonesia’s G.M. Tunjung, Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, and China’s Wang Zhi Yi, who ultimately won the tournament. However, her journey ended in the semifinals with a loss to China’s Han Yue, bringing an end to a successful and inspirational badminton career.
As the badminton world bids farewell to these legends, their achievements will continue to inspire players and fans alike. While their retirements signal the close of an era, they also pave the way for new beginnings.
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