Source:REUTERS/IVAN
ALVARADO
[Saba
Sports News] On December 11, a gathering of badminton players took place at the
Huanglong Hotel in Hangzhou for the welcome dinner of the Badminton World Tour
Finals. During the event, the Badminton World Federation held its annual awards
ceremony to recognize the best performers in the sport. The selection period
for these awards was from November 1, 2022, to October 31, 2023. The Best
Combination of the Year award went to Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan from China.
Known as the “Fanchen Combination,” they claimed eight championships
throughout the selection period, including the World Championships and Asian
Games championships. The Most Improved Player of the Year award was presented
to Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin, also from China. They secured four
championships, including the Asian Championship title, and their world ranking
rose from 78th at the beginning of the season to 6th. The most promising player
of the year were Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning from China. These young players
achieved victories in the Spanish, American, Arctic, and French Opens,
propelling their world ranking from 300th at the start of the season to 10th.
The Best Male Player of the Year award was won by Seo Seung Jae from South
Korea, while the Best Female Player of the Year award went to An Se-young, also
from South Korea. An Se-young, who held the top spot in the women’s singles
world rankings now, was recognized for her exceptional achievements. Overall,
these players have demonstrated outstanding performances throughout the year,
and their awards are well-deserved.