BWF World Tour Finals 2024: Home joy for Shi Yuqi and Wang Zhiyi in Hangzhou
The men's world number one and women's world number two prevailed at the end-of-season badminton finals in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Badminton
Shi Yuqi and Wang Zhiyi claimed the end-of-year badminton titles at the BWF World Tour Finals 2024 on Sunday (15 December).
Men's world number one Shi got the better of Anders Antonsen 21-18, 21-14, while Wang eventually got past compatriot Han Yue 19-21, 21-19, 21-11 in the women's singles final.
It was a dream day for the home heroes in Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China where three of the finals went the way of Chinese shuttlers.
Nantong native Shi secured his second World Tour Finals crown six years after his first, benefitting from the fervent support at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium.
The 28-year-old's powerful smashes helped him edge a tight opening game, but Antonsen did not make it easy for him with the top seed - who was victorious in 2020 - trying to maintain Denmark's recent stranglehold on the tournament after three consecutive triumphs for Viktor Axelsen.
However, Shi’s strength in longer rallies saw him come out on top as he won his first title since June's Indonesia Open where he also defeated Antonsen in the final.
Wang Zhiyi caps breakthrough 2024 in style
Two-time Asian champion Wang added a maiden World Tour Finals title to her trophy cabinet, but had to dig deep in a thriller against her Chinese compatriot.
Han converted her third game point to take the opening game with China's first women's singles title since Chen Yufei in 2019 up for grabs.
World number two Wang was on the brink at 16-19 down in the second game, but reeled off the next five points to level the match. She carried that momentum into the decider and completed victory in 74 minutes.
It was the 24-year-old's her fourth BWF World Tour title of 2024 in a year which saw her upset Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Chen to win Asian Championship gold.
There was also Chinese delight in the mixed doubles, as Olympic champions Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong overcame Malaysian duo Cheng Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei 21-18, 14-21, 21-17. For Zheng, it was a fairytale ending to his career having announced his retirement last month in order to spend more time with his family.
Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen became the first Danish doubles champions in 12 years, as they beat another Malaysian pair in Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin 21-17, 17-21, 21-11.
The women’s doubles champions are Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee of the Republic of Korea, sealing the title in straight sets with a 21-19, 21-14 victory against Paris 2024 bronze medallists Japan’s Matsuyama Nami and Shida Chiharu. Lee became the first player to win women's doubles titles with different partners having teamed up successfully with Shin Seung-chan in 2020.
Results from the finals of the BWF World Tour Finals, 15 December 2024:
Women's singles: Wang Zhiyi (CHN) def. Han Yue (CHN) 19-21, 21-19, 21-11
Mixed doubles: Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong (CHN) def. Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei (MAS) 21-18, 14-21, 21-17
Women's doubles: Baek Ha-na/Lee So-hee (KOR) def. Matsuyama Nami/Shida Chihari (JPN) 21-19, 21-14
Men's doubles: Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (DEN) def. Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzudin (MAS) 21-17, 17-21, 21-11
Men's singles: Shi Yuqi (CHN) def. Anders Antonsen (DEN) 21-18, 21-14