Surprises and Record Turnout Mark BWF World Badminton Championships 2025 in Paris
By Sayer Zaland-AIPS Member
PARIS: The BWF World Badminton Championships 2025, held from August 25–31 at Paris’s Porte de La Chapelle Arena, concluded with thrilling upsets, historic victories, and a record media presence, as 50,000 fans gathered to witness the world’s best shuttlers in action.
Shi Yuqi, Yamaguchi, and Malaysia Make Headlines
China’s Shi Yuqi captured the men’s singles title after surviving four consecutive three-game battles, including a nail-biting semifinal against Canada’s Victor Lai, who earned a historic bronze for his country.
In the women’s singles, Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi claimed her third world title in five years, defeating China’s Chen Yufei, who suffered an untimely injury after a stunning semifinal win over Korea’s top seed An Se Young.
Malaysia celebrated its first-ever mixed doubles gold on National Day, with Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei writing history. China secured the women’s doubles crown through Tan Ning and Liu Shengshu, while Korea’s Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae dominated the men’s doubles final.
Media and Innovation Take Center Stage
The event saw an impressive global media presence, with BWF officials holding an open Q&A session on finals day. Topics ranged from time-limit innovations and a possible new 3×15 scoring system to improving player profiles on the federation’s website. A new media newsletter was also announced to keep journalists informed year-round.
Young Reporters Shine
Two AIPS Young Reporters, Miangola Razafinimanana (Madagascar) and Krisna Sugina (Indonesia), gained hands-on experience in Paris. Miangola’s daily sketches, published by Badzine.fr, earned praise from players and media alike, while Krisna honed his photography skills alongside professionals.
With historic wins, passionate crowds, and exciting innovations, the 2025 edition set a high benchmark for future badminton championships.