Asian badminton stars dominate year-end awards

SINGAPORE: While Loh Kean Yew did not end up becoming the first Singaporean to win the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Male Player of the Year award on Monday (Dec 5), it was still a bumper night for Asia's badminton stars as they were rewarded for their stellar seasons.

Akane Yamaguchi took home her maiden BWF Female Player of the Year award, after the Japanese won back-to-back World Championships titles within the eligibility period of Nov 1, 2021 to Oct 31, 2022.

The women's world No. 1 also clinched this year's All England Open and Japan Open among her other highlights. 

“It’s the first time receiving this award and I feel really honoured and happy,” Yamaguchi told the BWF website.

China's Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong - both ranked world No. 3 for mixed doubles - won the BWF Pair of the Year award for 2022, beating Malaysian duo Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik and Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai.

Reigning world champion and world No.1 Viktor Axelsen won the BWF Male Player of the Year for the second year in a row, edging out Loh and Malaysian world No. 2 Lee Zii Jia. 

"Winning this award at the end of the year means a great deal. It’s a recap of the whole year, and when you win this award with so many great nominees and amazing opponents, I’m really, really happy. Thank you so much to all the guys who thought that I deserved this,” Denmark's Axelsen told the BWF website. 

The awards were announced during the BWF World Tour Finals gala dinner in Bangkok on Monday.

World No. 3 Loh's nomination marked the first time a Singaporean was shortlisted for the BWF Male Player of the Year award, adding to his growing trail of historic achievements, including winning the 2021 World Championships title.

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