Category: Events

“Latest Badminton Tournament News & Updates: Stay Ahead of the Game”

  • Shocking Arm Injury Revealed as Toh Returns to Training

    Shocking Arm Injury Revealed as Toh Returns to Training

    Malaysian mixed doubles player Toh Ee Wei has returned to training today after sustaining a severe injury that required 16 stitches on her left arm, following an accident at the gym.

    On September 24th, Toh was training at the Badminton Association of Malaysia Academy (ABM) gym when she slipped, causing glass to shatter and injure her arm, which required immediate medical attention and stitches.

    Fortunately, the injury was on her left arm and not her right, which she uses to hold the racket.

    Due to this incident, Toh and her partner Chen Tang Jie were forced to withdraw from the Arctic Open (October 8–13) and the Denmark Open (October 15–20). The pair had recently won the mixed doubles title at the Korea Open last month.

    After a two-week rest, Toh has resumed intensive training at ABM. Her left arm, particularly near the elbow, shows a clearly visible scar, revealing the severity of the injury, though it has now healed.

    In an interview, Toh stated, “This is our first time missing two consecutive tournaments, but it’s a new experience for us. We must face it, and we hope to perform better in future events.”

    When asked about her return to competition, Toh said, “Regarding upcoming tournaments, we’re focusing on training for now, observing our condition, and then evaluating which competitions we’ll participate in next.”

  • Mulyo Handoyo to Lead Malaysia’s Singles Squad

    Mulyo Handoyo to Lead Malaysia’s Singles Squad

    Indonesian legendary coach Mulyo Handoyo and former Malaysian player Rosman Razak will officially take over as the head coaches for Malaysia’s national singles and women’s doubles teams this Friday.

    Malaysia’s coaching director, Rexy Mainaky, confirmed today that the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has reached an agreement with the new singles head coach, who will succeed Hendrawan, who stepped down last week after serving for 15 years. The new coach will be responsible for managing both male and female singles players at the Badminton Academy of Malaysia (ABM).

    Although Rexy mentioned that the official announcement will be made on Friday, The New Straits Times has revealed that the coach is none other than Mulyo Handoyo.

    Mulyo is renowned for grooming badminton legend Taufik Hidayat into both a world and Olympic champion. Taufik clinched the men’s singles gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics and won the World Championships in 2005.

    Mulyo also found success coaching in India in 2017, guiding players like Lakshya Sen (Paris 2024 Olympic semifinalist), Prannoy, and Srikanth Kidambi to four Super Series titles that year. Mulyo left India in February 2018 and moved to Singapore, where he led Loh Kean Yew to a world championship title in 2021.

  • Lei Lanxi and Weng Hongyang Fall Early in Arctic Open

    Lei Lanxi and Weng Hongyang Fall Early in Arctic Open

    On October 9th, during the men’s singles event at the 2024 Arctic Badminton Open, Lei Lanxi, fresh off his runner-up finish at the Hong Kong Open, lost 1-2 (17-21, 29-27, 16-21) to Japan’s Yushi Tanaka, exiting in the first round.

    The match lasted 91 minutes, with Lei winning the second game after a closely contested 29-27 battle. Unfortunately, despite leading 15-12 in the deciding game, he allowed his opponent to mount a 9-1 run and lost the match.

    In another match, Weng Hongyang, this year’s China Open champion, also exited in the first round, losing 11-21, 14-21 to Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

    Now, only Li Shifeng and Lu Guangzu remain for China in the men’s singles. Li Shifeng will face Lee Cheuk Yiu in the Round of 16, holding a 3-0 head-to-head record. Meanwhile, Lu Guangzu will take on Koki Watanabe, with Lu having a 2-0 record against the Japanese player.

  • An Se Young Cries in Interview During Domestic Return

    An Se Young Cries in Interview During Domestic Return

    An Se Young made headlines after exposing the unfair treatment she faced in the South Korean national team. Yesterday, she returned to the court for the first time in two months, competing in the Korean National Sports Festival, attracting a large audience of fans and media. The athlete, who has been under public scrutiny, felt immense pressure and even broke down in tears during her interview.


    After winning gold in women’s singles at the Paris Olympics, An Se Young revealed the harsh training conditions and the years of unfair treatment she endured as part of the national team. Along with rigorous duties, she was even tasked with washing clothes for male players, leading to mental and physical exhaustion.
    In a previous interview, An Se Young expressed her deep disappointment with the national team, and even considered quitting. The scandal caught widespread attention, with high-level officials reviewing the case, and the outdated practices of South Korea’s sports system became a hot topic.
    During the Korean National Sports Festival, An Se Young said she had much time to reflect. When asked whether her love for badminton had changed, she couldn’t hold back her tears, momentarily unable to speak. After regaining her composure, she said, “Though I waited a long time, I want to thank my fans. It feels so good to return, and I will show you my best self in the future.”
    Having fallen from her world No. 1 spot to second, An Se Young believes that if she enjoys the game and shows her true self, she will undoubtedly reclaim the top position.

  • Lee Zii Jia Seeks Revenge in 2-Point Defeat Rematch

    Lee Zii Jia Seeks Revenge in 2-Point Defeat Rematch

    Lee Zii Jia will face off against Koki Watanabe in the quarterfinals for a much-anticipated rematch. In today’s round of 16 at the Arctic Badminton Super 500 tournament, world No. 14 Koki Watanabe comfortably defeated China’s Lu Guangzu 21-11, 21-13, advancing to the quarterfinals where he will meet Lee Zii Jia. This win marked Watanabe’s first victory over Lu in their three encounters. Earlier, Malaysian men’s singles player Lee Zii Jia also cruised into the quarterfinals, defeating another Japanese player, Yushi Tanaka, in straight sets.


    Last month, in the China Open (Super 1000), Lee Zii Jia suffered a crushing defeat to Watanabe 15-21, 2-21, marking his second consecutive loss to the Japanese star. Now, as they meet again, will Lee Zii Jia exact revenge or will Koki Watanabe secure another victory? All eyes are on this battle.

  • Leong Aims to Prove His No. 1 BAM Ranking Amidst Challenges

    Leong Aims to Prove His No. 1 BAM Ranking Amidst Challenges

    Men’s singles player Leong Jun Hao understands the dedication required to advance and overcome obstacles within the national team, having been a member for seven years.

    He emphasizes that sustaining a spot on the team is ultimately up to the player. “Coaches will assist, but you have to navigate the tough times on your own. Everyone must strive to demonstrate their ability to remain in the national team and improve,” says Jun Hao. “In the end, it all hinges on the player.”

    As one of the longest-serving singles players, Jun Hao has worked hard to attain the No. 1 position in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). “The results show my progress, and I hope to continue getting better.”

    Jun Hao first showcased his potential by winning the 2017 Asian Junior Championships, but injuries delayed his rise through the ranks. The 25-year-old persevered, maintaining his place in BAM, and his determination has led him to the world No. 29 ranking, surpassing the injured Ng Tze Yong, who is now at No. 32 due to a recurring back issue this year.

    Alongside Jun Hao and Tze Yong, BAM retains Justin Hoh and Eogene Ewe in the senior team, while Jacky Kok, Ong Zhen Yi, Chua Kim Sheng, and Lee Jan Jireh have been dropped.

    Jun Hao credits his coaches, Hendrawan and Datuk Tey Seu Bock, for his success. “I want to thank coach Hendrawan and coach Seu Bock for helping me reach this point. I have worked with them for several years, and they’ve guided me well. I’ve learned a lot from them.”

    Hendrawan is set to depart BAM at the end of the month after 15 years, while Seu Bock will transition to the junior team. Former women’s singles coach K. Yogendran has been appointed to the men’s singles team, alongside Alvin Chew, who has been with the junior team.

    Regarding these transitions, Jun Hao comments, “We must accept these changes since they’re beyond our control. We need to collaborate with the new coaches and strive to become stronger. I’ve worked with Yogendran briefly before; every coach has unique strengths, and we need time to adjust to their training approaches.”

    Jun Hao aims to conclude his year on a high note by performing well in his upcoming tournaments, starting with the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland, where he faces a tough opening match against Hong Kong’s world No. 16 Lee Cheuk Yiu.

  • Arctic Open Title Defense a Tough Task for Lee Zii Jia in Finland

    Arctic Open Title Defense a Tough Task for Lee Zii Jia in Finland

    Lee Zii Jia is set to defend his Arctic Open title, but the men’s singles player faces a challenging path in the tournament starting today.

    After winning a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, Zii Jia finds himself in a tough section of the draw. His competition includes world No. 3 Anders Antonsen from Denmark, world No. 9 Anthony Ginting from Indonesia, and world No. 10 Chou Tien-chen from Taiwan.

    In the opening round, Zii Jia will face world No. 27 Christo Popov from France. Although a tough opponent, Zii Jia has beaten him once before at the 2022 German Open, giving him a slight advantage.

    If Zii Jia wins the first match, his likely second-round opponent will be China’s rising star, world No. 22 Lei Lanxi. He could then meet Anthony Ginting, Lu Guangzu, or Koki Watanabe in the quarterfinals.

    Last year, Zii Jia won the Arctic Open by defeating fellow Malaysian Ng Tze Yong. Another Malaysian, Leong Jun Hao, will begin his campaign today against Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu. Jun Hao is hoping for a better outcome after a tight three-game loss to Cheuk Yiu in the Hong Kong Open last month, where he led in the deciding game but couldn’t seal the victory.

    In men’s doubles, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik return after Wooi Yik recovered from a toe injury that kept them out since their bronze win in Paris. They will face China’s world No. 21 pair Chen Boyang and Liu Yi in the first round.

    Other Malaysian men’s doubles teams participating include Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, and Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi.

    In the women’s doubles, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, who recently won the Hong Kong Open, will be the only Malaysian representatives.

  • BWF Revamps Player of the Year Awards for 2024

    BWF Revamps Player of the Year Awards for 2024

    The BWF Player of the Year Awards 2024 will be revealed on Monday, 9 December, during the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals Gala Dinner. This year brings significant changes in the awards structure and voting process, enhancing the transparency and recognition of players’ accomplishments.

    The key awards include categories for men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, with a new voting system. This involves world ranking points accumulated during the eligibility period, along with votes from experts after major tournaments like the Super 750 and Super 1000 series, plus the World Tour Finals and Paris 2024 Olympics. The eligibility period runs from 1 December to 30 November, concluding with the LI-NING China Masters 2024.

    Additionally, two player-voted awards — Players’ Player of the Year (Men and Women) — replace the previous Most Improved Award. The Eddy Choong Most Promising Award is now the Eddy Choong Rising Star Award, honoring emerging talents, with the winners selected by the BWF Awards Commission.

    The awards panel consists of respected badminton individuals, including former players, coaches, commentators, and media professionals. The revamped structure aims to add prestige to the awards and increase stakeholder engagement.

    Nominees will be announced on 2 December.

    New Award Categories:

    • Men’s Singles Player of the Year
    • Women’s Singles Player of the Year
    • Men’s Doubles Pair of the Year
    • Women’s Doubles Pair of the Year
    • Mixed Doubles Pair of the Year
    • Players’ Player of the Year (Men and Women)
    • Eddy Choong Rising Star Award
    • Men’s Para-Badminton Player of the Year
    • Women’s Para-Badminton Player of the Year
    • Para-Badminton Pair of the Year
    • Future BWF Hall of Fame Inductees

    The BWF Player of the Year Awards aims to foster greater recognition and transparency while engaging players and fans alike.

  • Bøje and Tabeling Look Forward After Debut as a Team

    Bøje and Tabeling Look Forward After Debut as a Team

    The CLASH ROYALE Arctic Open 2024 began today with qualification rounds, followed by the opening matches of the main draw.

    While European players experienced both victories and defeats, some saw positives even in loss. Among them were the newly paired Robin Tabeling from the Netherlands and Alexandra Bøje from Denmark. Their partnership was formed as Mathias Christiansen, Bøje’s usual partner, is suspended until July next year.

    Tabeling and Bøje have been training for their debut at the Danish National Centre in Brøndby. “The intensity there is just on another level,” Tabeling remarked about their preparation.

    Reflecting on their first match together, Tabeling shared, “We were excited, but seeing the draw, we knew it could have been better.” They were up against the second-seeded pair from China, Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin, who have been in strong form recently. Tabeling added, “It wouldn’t surprise me if they win the whole tournament.”

    Despite the challenge, the new duo performed admirably, ultimately falling 17-21, 16-21. Tabeling commented, “We had a strong start, great energy, and we stuck to our game plan.”

    Bøje was also upbeat about their performance. “We moved well on the court, and that’s something we can build on. For our first match as a team, we’re pleased with how we played. We’re hungry for the next competition,” she concluded, looking forward to the upcoming Denmark Open.

  • China Dominates, Europe Eliminated at Macau Open 2024

    China Dominates, Europe Eliminated at Macau Open 2024

    At the Macau Open 2024, China claimed 4 out of 5 gold medals, while all European athletes were eliminated in the first round.

    The Sands China Ltd. Macau Open Badminton 2024 marked the conclusion of the “Asian leg” of the BWF World Tour and the beginning of the “European leg,” starting with the CLASH ROYALE Arctic Open powered by YONEX on October 8th. However, while it signified the end of the Asian leg, it did not herald the start of European dominance in the sport.

    As highlighted in our opening article, European players faced an uphill battle due to limited participation in Macau and unfortunate matchups. There were still chances for European athletes to achieve notable victories, but these hopes were dashed. The top-seeded pair, Ben Lane and Sean Vendy, were defeated by the newly formed Chinese duo, Chen Xu Jun and Liu Yi, who went on to claim their first major victory as a team.

  • Europeans Shine at VICTOR Croatian International

    Europeans Shine at VICTOR Croatian International

    The VICTOR Croatian International 2024 concluded yesterday, showcasing a strong performance from European athletes, many of whom secured multiple medals.

    In a change from the women’s doubles to the women’s singles, Stefani Stoeva excelled in this event, winning a bronze medal after impressive victories, including a notable win against top seed Heli Neiman. Unfortunately, her journey ended in the semifinals, where she faced Raksha Kandasamy from India.

    Although the singles titles were claimed by non-European competitors, European players made their mark in the finals. Charles Fouyn from Belgium and Leona Lee from England finished as runners-up in the men’s and women’s singles, respectively.

    Mihajlo Tomic from Serbia, known for his outstanding mixed doubles performances with Andjela Vitman, not only captured the mixed doubles title but also triumphed in men’s doubles alongside Viktor Petrovic.

    Additionally, Jonathan Dresp from Germany had a successful tournament, earning silver medals in both mixed doubles with Lara Kaepplein and men’s doubles with Aaron Sonnenschein.

  • Denmark Falls in Quarterfinals, France Achieves Major Victory

    Denmark Falls in Quarterfinals, France Achieves Major Victory

    In the quarterfinals of the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships, Denmark’s undefeated streak came to an end as they faced a tough opponent in 2011 champions, Malaysia. Despite a strong effort, Denmark lost 85-110, allowing Malaysia to advance to the semifinals, joining other Asian giants China, Indonesia, and Japan.

    European Teams Still Battling for Top Positions
    Though no other European teams reached the quarterfinals, the fight for favorable rankings continues.
    Portugal, Armenia, and Slovakia all celebrated victories today, while Poland edged out Türkiye in a thrilling match. In a notable upset, France secured a huge win, defeating three-time champions Korea 110-93.