Season Finale Kickoff: Vitidsarn, An Win Opening Matches
Published: Dec 17, 2025
Arthur Jones
Writer
Vitidsarn and An Se-Young both opened strong at the World Tour Finals, with Vitidsarn dominating Christie and An battling through a tough three-game match against Wardani.
Dec 17 – Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn got off to a flying start at the Badminton World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, defeating Jonatan Christie 21-10, 21-14 in the men’s group stage, marking his sixth victory over the Indonesian player.
South Korea’s top-ranked An Se-Young faced a more challenging opener, dropping the second game before recovering to beat Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani 21-16, 8-21, 21-8 in Group A. The 2024 Paris Olympics gold medallist and former world champion is chasing her first title in the season-ending championship, featuring the world’s top eight players.
Meanwhile, Japan’s reigning women’s world champion Akane Yamaguchi overcame compatriot Tomoka Miyazaki 21-14, 21-17, while Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong edged past Ratchanok Intanon 21-18, 14-21, 21-10.
In a thrilling 78-minute men’s contest, France’s Christo Popov defeated Denmark’s Anders Antonsen 21-13, 12-21, 21-19 to move to the next round.
World number two Li Shi Feng lost 21-13, 23-21 to fellow Chinese player Shi Yu Qi in under an hour, while Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen was beaten 21-17, 21-18 by Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in the remaining singles matches.
