The 2025 HSBC BWF World Tour Finals got off to an exciting start as tournament favourites cleared their first hurdles in their respective group ties at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre.
Thailand’s top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn made a commanding start in the men’s singles Group A, prevailing over Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie with a tight and composed game for a 21-10, 21-14 win in 45 minutes, his sixth win over 15 meetings against the Indonesian.
France’s Christo Popov was also in his element, edging Denmark’s Anders Antonsen in a gruelling 78-minute battle with little separating the players. Popov levelled terms after four meetings against the Dane, after securing a 21-13, 12-21, 21-19 victory to enhance his chances of progressing to the knockout rounds.
The remaining group matches saw China’s Shi Yu Qi needing 57 minutes to defeat country mate Li Shi Feng 21-13, 23-21, while Japan’s Kodai Naraoka overcame Hong Kong’s Chou Tien Chen 21-17, 21-18.
In the Women’s Singles Group A, World No 1 An Se-Young had a tough start to her campaign before securing her win over Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani.
The Korean ace took the opening game 21-16 but suffered a dip in momentum in the second before rebounding to close out the match 21-8 in the decider.
Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi also booked a first-day win, defeating compatriot Tomoka Miyazaki 21-14, 21-17 with crisp defence and selective aggression. Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong edged out fellow Thai Ratchanok Intanon 21-18, 14-21, 21-10 in a 57-minute fiery encounter.
In Men’s Doubles Group B, the Indian pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty produced a thrilling comeback to stun Olympic silver medallists Liang Wei Keng / Wang Chang in a contest that showcased their trademark power and fight under pressure.
The Indian dynamic duo overcame the favourite Chinese pair 12-21, 22-20, 21-14 in a pulsating 60-minute battle, which could lead to more thrilling battles in the group.
Another explosive encounter in Group B with top seeds Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik battled hard before edging Indonesian pair Fajar Alfian/Mohamad Sohibul Fikri in an 83-minute battle, which ended in the Malaysian pair winning 22-24, 21-18, 21-19, their first win in three meetings against the Indonesian duo.
In Group A, top seed Pearly Tan / Thinaah Muralitharan secured early points with a commanding straight-games win over the Chinese pair Jia Yi Fan / Zhang Shu Xian winning 21-17, 21-11 in only 46 minutes.
In Mixed Doubles Group A, Dechapol Puavaranukroh / Supissara Paewsampran suffered a shocking opening day defeat at the hands of Japanese pair Hiroki Kidorikawa/Natsu Saito, who needed 43 minutes to beat the Thai top-seed 21-19, 21-18.
In an all Malaysian Group B encounter, top seed Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei clinched their sixth win (in nine meetings) against Goh Soon Huat/ Shevon Lai in just 41 minutes. Chen/Toh emerged triumphant in their opening tie with a 21-13, 21-13 win over their fellow Malaysian rivals.
RESULTS (GROUP STAGE)
Men’s Singles
Group A: Kunlavut Vitidsarn (THA) Jonatan Christie (INA) 21-10, 21-14
Christo Popov (FRA) bt Anders Antonsen (DEN) 21-13, 12-21, 21-19
Group B: Shi Yu Qi (CHN) bt Li Shi Feng (CHN) 21-13, 23-21
Kodai Naraoka (JPN) bt Chou Tien Chen (HKG, China) 21-17, 21-18
Women’s Singles
Group A: An Se Young (KOR) bt Putri Kusuma Wardani (INA) 21-16, 8-21, 21-8
Akane Yamaguchi (JPN), Tomoka Miyazaki (JPN) 21-14, 21-17
Group B: Wang Zhi Yi (CHN) bt Han Yue (CHN) 21-14, 21-5
Pornpawee Chochuwong (THA) bt Ratchanok Intanon (THA) 21-18, 14-21, 21-10
Men’s Doubles
Group A: Kim Won Ho / Seo Seung Jae (KOR) bt Chiu Hsiang Chieh / Wang Chi-Lin (TPE) 21-19, 23-25, 21-14
Sabar Karyaman Gutama / Mohd Reza Pahlavi Isfahani (INA) bt Man Wei Chong / Tee Kai Mun (MAS) 23-21-21-19
Group B: Aaron Chia / Soh Wooi Yik (MAS) bt Fajar Alfian / Muhammad Shohibul Fikri (INA) 22-24, 21-18, 21-19
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty (IND) bt Liang Wei Keng / Wang Chang (CHN) 12-21, 22-20, 21-14
Women’s Doubles
Group A: Pearly Tan / Thinaah Muralitharan (MAS) bt Jia Yi Fan / Zhang Shu Xian (CHN) 21-17, 21-11
Yuki Fukushima / Mayu Matsumoto (JPN) bt Rin Iwanaga / Kie Nakanishi (JPN) 21-14, 21-14
Group B: Baek Ha Na / Lee So Hee (KOR) bt Kim Hye Jeong / Kong Hee Yong (KOR) 21-15, 21-12
Liu Sheng Shu / Tan Ning (CHN) bt Hsieh Pei Shan / Hung En Tzu (TPE) 21-10, 21-14
Mixed Doubles
Group A: Hiroki Midorikawa / Natsu Saito (JPN) bt Dechapol Puavaranukroh / Supissara Paewsampran (THA) 21-19, 21-18
Jiang Zhen Bang / Wei Ya Xin (CHN), Thom Gicquel / Delphine Delrue (FRA) 16-21, 21-16, 21-17
Group B: Feng Yan Zhe / Huang Dong Ping (CHN) bt Jafar Hidayatullah / Felisha Albert Nathaniel Pasaribu (INA) 21-18, 21-16
Chen Tang Jie / Toh Ee Wei (MAS) bt Goh Soon Huat / Shevon Lai (MAS) 21-13, 21-13
