Bangkok: Denmark’s men’s singles World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen, Japan’s women’s singles World No. 1 Akane Yamaguchi, and the mixed doubles World No. 3 Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong of China were named Male, Female player and Pair of the Year 2022 respectively by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in Bangkok on Monday.
(photo: Viktor Axelsen’s FB)
(photo: Anggiznr’s FB)
The World No. 3 men’s doubles pair Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto of Indonesia won the Most Improved Players of the Year, while Japan’s 21-year-old Kodai Naraoka took home the Most Promising Player of the Year trophy.
(photo: Anggiznr’s FB)
Speaking to the media after the awards ceremony, Axelsen who also won the Male Player of The Year award in 2021, said that he was honored to have won the award and will be focusing on the Finals this week.
Meanwhile, Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong who had clinched 8 titles in 2022 and with a winning rate of 96%, were excited about the recognition.
(photo: Anggiznr’s FB)
“It’s a huge privilege to receive this award. Opponents in the BWF World Tour Finals are very strong and we will try to play our best,” said Zheng/Huang after the awards ceremony.
In Para badminton, Paralympic champion in men’s singles WH2 category – Japan’s Daiki Kajiwara was named Male Para-Badminton Player of the Year while India’s 17-year-old para-badminton world champion in the SU5 category, Manisha Ramadass, won the Female Para-Badminton Player of the Year award. Thomas Wandschneider/Rick Cornell Hellmann from Germany were chosen as the Para-Badminton Pair of the Year.
