Top five title favourites in women's singles at BWF World Tour Finals 2025

Olympic champion An Se-young leads the field as top seed.

The BWF World Tour Finals 2025, set to begin on December 17 in Hangzhou, China, brings together the top eight players from the World Tour Rankings, all competing for a grand prize of $3,000,000.

The women’s singles category promises intense competition with reigning champion Wang Zhiyi looking to defend her title after defeating An Se-young in last year’s semi-finals. The Korean Olympic champion will be eager to avenge that loss and add another World Tour Finals crown to her already impressive collection.

China’s Wang Zhiyi and Han Yue will have home crowd support, while Olympic champion An Se-young aims to cap off an extraordinary year with another title. The tournament also features Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, a former champion with vast experience at the highest level, making the competition even more thrilling.

Also Read: Top five title favourites in men’s singles at BWF World Tour Finals 2025

That said, let’s dive into the top five contenders vying for the prestigious women’s singles crown at the year-end finale:

5. Putri Kusuma Wardani (Indonesia)

Indonesia’s rising star Putri Kusuma Wardani makes her BWF World Tour Finals debut after a breakthrough 2025 season. The 23-year-old reached the semi-finals at the World Championships, where she notably defeated two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu in the quarter-finals, showcasing her ability to perform on the biggest stages.

Wardani finished runner-up in two Super 500 titles at the Hylo Open and Australian Open, along with three semi-final appearances at the Korea Open, Thailand Masters, and Swiss Open.

While facing experienced campaigners like An Se-young and Yamaguchi in Group A, Wardani’s fearless approach could spring surprises in Hangzhou.

Also Read: BWF World Tour Finals: Full list of title winners

4. Han Yue (China)

China’s Han Yue enters as the third seed after another consistent 2025 season. The home favourite reached three Super 750 finals at the China Masters, Malaysia Masters, and Hong Kong Open, along with an impressive eight semi-final appearances at major tournaments, including the All England Open, Indonesia Open and China Open.

Playing in front of her home crowd provides Han with additional motivation to finally claim her maiden World Tour Finals title.

Drawn in Group B alongside reigning champion Wang Zhiyi, Han will need to overcome her compatriot to advance, but her recent form suggests she’s capable of challenging anyone.

3. Akane Yamaguchi (Japan)

The three-time world champion and 2022 BWF World Tour Finals winner, Akane Yamaguchi, remains a formidable contender, winning two Super 500 titles in the 2025 season. The Japanese shuttler won the Korea Open and Arctic Open, along with an impressive eight semi-final appearances at tournaments including the All England Open, Indonesia Open, and China Open.

Yamaguchi’s ability to thrive in high-pressure situations and vast experience at the World Tour Finals give her an edge over younger opponents. Drawn in Group A, Yamaguchi will look to use her championship pedigree to navigate through and challenge for her second World Tour Finals title.

2. Wang Zhiyi (China)

China’s Wang Zhiyi enters as the reigning champion and second seed, having won the 2024 edition by defeating An Se-young in the semi-finals.

The Chinese star has had another exceptional 2025 season with three titles at the China Open, Malaysia Masters, and Hong Kong Open, along with seven runner-up finishes at major tournaments, including the Malaysia Open, All England Open and Indonesia Open.

Playing on home soil and carrying the confidence of last year’s triumph, she will be highly motivated to retain her crown. Her recent head-to-head advantage over An Se-young gives her psychological confidence heading into a potential rematch in the knockout stages.

1. An Se-young (South Korea)

The reigning Olympic champion and current World No. 1, An Se-young, is the clear favourite to win the title. With an exceptional 2025 season that includes 10 titles, including 3 Super 1000 titles – the Malaysia Open, All England Open, and Indonesia Open, An looks in complete form.

Her only significant blemish was her semi-final loss to Wang Zhiyi at last year’s World Tour Finals, a defeat she will be eager to avenge. Having previously won the World Tour Finals in 2021, the Korean star will look to reclaim the trophy and complete a near-perfect season. An’s consistency and dominance throughout 2025 set her apart from the competition.

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