Pan Am Games 2023 champion, Beiwen Zhang (USA), will compete at the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2023, which will take place in Hangzhou, China from 13 to 17 December 2023.
Text by BWF
The Top 8 qualifiers for the world’s richest badminton tournament have been unveiled with the remaining places in the HSBC Race To Finals rankings sealed over the weekend.
Hangzhou, China plays host to the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2023 from 13 to 17 December 2023, with a total prize pool of US$2.5 million on offer.
There are eight qualifying spots in each of the five categories, with a maximum of two players per Member Association, and a spot reserved for the reigning world champion.
Korea’s world champion An Se Young had an exceptional season with eight HSBC BWF World Tour titles from 10 finals, securing 119,890 points for first place. Olympic champion and local Hangzhou hero Chen Yu Fei finished second.
“I’m very happy that more and more international tournaments are coming to Hangzhou, and I feel very amiable to play in my hometown. I’ll enjoy the tournament itself and the atmosphere onsite. Compared to the last few times I participated in the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2023, I feel that I am getting more mature. I will do my best to win the championship.” – Chen Yu Fei.
Third-placed qualifier Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi remains in injury doubt. Korea’s Kim Ga Eun is next in line, with her semifinal finish at the LI-NING China Masters 2023 bumping her to 70,650 points and ninth place overall.
BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund said: “BWF is excited to promote Hangzhou as the official home of the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals, with world-class facilities and infrastructure.
“The HSBC BWF World Tour Finals is our signature season-ending finale, and thanks to HSBC we have been able to increase our overall commitment to the sport and players.
“We look forward to welcoming the season’s best players to Hangzhou as they compete for their share of the $US2.5 million – the most in the history of badminton.”
The draw will be held during the annual HSBC BWF World Tour Finals Gala Dinner on Monday 11 December. The winners of the BWF Player of the Year Awards will also be announced.
