World Tour Finals 2025: Thrilling Semifinals Await As China Continue Domination

The group stage of the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2025 wrapped up on Friday with Asia’s badminton heavyweights asserting their authority, highlighted by China’s dominant presence across four of the five disciplines. The final group matches set the stage for high-stakes semifinals on Saturday, promising thrilling clashes across all categories.

Men’s Singles: Kunlavut, Shi to battle out 

Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn finished strongly in Group A, recovering from an earlier setback to edge Denmark’s Anders Antonsen 21-15, 18-21, 21-13. Kunlavut’s experience and tactical variety proved decisive in the deciding third game, keeping him firmly in contention as he prepares to face China’s Shi Yu Qi in Saturday’s semifinal.

Group A’s other semifinalist, France’s Christo Popov, overcame Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie 18-21, 21-16, 21-13, ensuring Europe has representation in the last four.

In Group B, China’s Shi Yu Qi displayed clinical precision with a straight-games win over Japan’s Kodai Naraoka 21-9, 21-11. Shi meets Kunlavut in the semifinals, while Naraoka faces Popov in the other clast-four clash.

Women’s Singles: An Se-Young Tops Group A, Intanon Advances from Group B

South Korea’s An Se-Young confirmed her status as a top contender with a 14-21, 21-5, 21-14 victory over Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, showcasing her adaptability and mental resilience.

Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani concluded her campaign with a 21-17, 21-9 win over Tomoka Miyazaki, finishing Group A on a high note.

In Group B, Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon seized a semifinal berth with a 21-17, 21-10 win over China’s Han Yue, benefiting from Pornpawee Chochuwong’s earlier withdrawal due to injury. China’s Wang Zhi Yi had already secured the other semifinal spot, ensuring strong Asian representation in the women’s singles last four.

Men’s Doubles: Satwik-Chirag Make History

India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty staged a stirring comeback to defeat Malaysia’s Aaron Chia / Soh Wooi Yik 17-21, 21-18, 21-15, topping Group B and securing their first-ever World Tour Finals semifinal berth. 

Group A remained tightly contested as Korea’s Kim Won Ho / Seo Seung Jae edged Malaysia’s Man Wei Chong / Tee Kai Mun 25-23, 14-21, 21-19 to confirm the last four. Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman Gutama / Muhammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahiani triumphed in a thrilling three-game encounter against Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Hsiang Chieh / Wang Chi-Lin 21-19, 20-22, 21-15, setting up a semifinal clash with the Korean pair.

China’s Liang Wei Keng / Wang Chang joined Satwik-Chirag in the semifinals after defeating Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian / Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 21-17, 21-14.

Women’s Doubles: Pearly–Thinaah Keep Semifinal Hopes Alive

Malaysia’s Pearly Tan / Thinaah Muralitharan narrowly lost to Japan’s Yuki Fukushima / Mayu Matsumoto 21-15, 16-21, 21-19, but had already secured a semifinal spot, setting up a rematch against the Japanese pair.

China’s Jia Yi Fan / Zhang Shu Xian maintained their momentum with a 21-18, 21-8 victory over Rin Iwanaga / Kie Nakanishi, clinching the second semifinal slot in Group A.

In Group B, China’s Liu Sheng Shu / Tan Ning dominated 21-17, 21-11 against Korea’s Kim Hye Jeong / Kong Hee Yong, while Baek Ha Na / Lee So Hee defeated Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Pei Shan / Hung En Tzu 21-17, 21-19, setting up a semifinal showdown between Korea and China.

Mixed Doubles: Asian Pairs Maintain Stronghold

Top-seeded Thailand duo Dechapol Puavaranukroh / Supissara Paewsampran were eliminated after falling to China’s Jiang Zhen Bang / Wei Ya Xin 21-10, 21-12. Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa / Natsu Saito defeated France’s Thom Gicquel / Delphine Delrue 21-14, 21-23, 21-14, advancing to contest a semifinal spot against China’s Feng Yan Zhe / Huang Dong Ping.

Malaysia’s Chen Tang Jie / Toh Ee Wei confirmed their semifinal berth despite a hard-fought loss to Jiang Zhen Bang / Wei Ya Xin, setting up another exciting rematch in the last four.

RESULTS (GROUP STAGE)

Men’s Singles

Group A:  

Kunlavut Vitidsarn (THA) bt Anders Antonsen (DEN) 21-15, 18-21, 21-13

Christo Popov (FRA) bt Jonatan Christie (INA) 18-21, 21-16, 21-13

Group B: 

Shi Yu Qi (CHN) bt  Kodai Naraoka (JPN) 21-9, 21-11

Chou Tien Chen (TPE)  bt Li Shi Feng (CHN)14-21, 11-14 Retired

Women’s Singles

Group A: 

An Se Young (KOR) bt Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) 14-21, 21-5, 21-14

Putri Kusuma Wardani (INA) bt Tomoka Miyazaki (JPN) 21-17, 21-9

Group B:  

Ratchanok Intanon (THA) bt Han Yue (CHN) 21-17, 21-10

Men’s Doubles

Group A 

Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Mohd Reza Pahlavi Isfahani (INA) bt Chiu Hsiang Chieh / Wang Chi-Lin (TPE) 21-19, 20-22, 21-15

Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae (KOR) bt Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Mun (MAS) 25-23, 14-21, 21-19

Group B

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (IND) bt Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (MAS) 17-21, 21-18, 21-15

Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang (CHN) bt Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri (INA) 21-17, 21-14

Women’s Doubles

Group A: 

Yuki Fukushima / Mayu Matsumoto (JPN) bt  Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan (MAS) 21-15, 16-21, 21-19

Jia Yi Fan / Zhang Shu Xian (CHN) bt Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi (JPN) 21-18, 21-8

Group B: 

Liu Sheng Shu / Tan Ning (CHN) bt Kim Hye Jeong / Kong Hee Yong (KOR) 21-17, 21-11

Baek Ha Na / Lee So Hee (KOR) bt Hsieh Pei Shan / Hung En Tzu (TPE) 21-17, 21-19

Mixed Doubles

Group A: 

 Hiroki Midorikawa/Natsu Saito (JPN) bt Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue (FRA) 21-14, 21-23, 21-14

Jiang Zhen Bang/ Wei Ya Xin (CHN) bt Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Supissara Paewsampran (THA) 21-10, 21-12