An Se Young emerged the star of the new-look BWF Player of the Year Awards 2024, becoming the only shuttler to walk away with two trophies from the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2024 Gala Dinner on Monday 9 December.

The winners, assessed over an eligibility period of 12 months (1 December 2023 to 30 November 2024), were announced during the glitzy event at the Intercontinental Hotel in Hangzhou.

Conqueror of five titles this season, including the Paris 2024 Olympic gold, An scooped the Women’s Singles Player of the Year Award ahead of Chinese pair Wang Zhi Yi and Han Yue and Gregoria Mariska Tunjung. The 22-year-old Korean was also voted by her peers as the first Players’ Player of the Year (Women).

“I didn’t expect I’d receive so much support from other players. I’m delighted to get this award,” said An. “(New BWF Hall of Famer) Lee Yong Dae is my idol and he told me ‘you have so much to celebrate today’. I’m so happy. I have so many people standing by me supporting me and they are my biggest motivation.”

As a nation, China dominated the evening, topping six categories, including two of the three Para badminton awards.

Shi Yu Qi, who in June replaced Viktor Axelsen as world No.1 after the Dane reigned for 132 weeks, bagged his first year-end gong while Wheelchair star Qu Zimo took home his third Men’s Para Badminton Player of the Year Award, having also won in 2019 and 2021. With four titles (India, French, Singapore and Indonesia Opens), 2024 turned out to be the most successful year of Shi’s career.

“I feel good because this is recognition for my year’s worth of hard work. I was more spirited this year and performed better, especially in team events. I was determined (to do well) and I achieved good results,” said the 28-year-old.

Meanwhile, Alex Lanier became the first European player in 14 years to be recognised as the best up-and-coming talent in badminton, winning the renamed Eddy Choong Rising Star Award to emulate Axelsen’s achievement from 2010. The French youngster’s breakthrough season saw him triumph at the Super 750 DAIHATSU Japan Open in August after finishing runner-up at the YONEX Canada Open a month earlier.

Lanier said via a recorded message: “I’m incredibly honoured to win this award. Thank you for all the support and I look forward to many more exciting years of badminton with you all.”

He Ji Ting and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela were named the best dressed male and female players respectively.

Badminton icons Lee Yong Dae and Chen Long, both Olympic champions, were later officially inducted into the BWF Hall of Fame at the same ceremony.

FULL WINNERS LIST

Men’s Singles Player of the Year: Shi Yu Qi (China)

Women’s Singles Player of the Year: An Se Young (Korea)

Men’s Doubles Player of the Year: Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang (China)

Women’s Doubles Player of the Year: Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning (China)

Mixed Doubles Player of the Year: Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping (China)

Men’s Para Badminton Player of the Year: Qu Zi Mo (China)

Women’s Para Badminton Player of the Year: Liu Yu Tong and Li Feng Mei (both China)

Para Badminton Pair of the Year: Hikmat Ramdani/Leani Ratri Oktila (Indonesia)

Eddy Choong Rising Star of the Year: Alex Lanier (France)

Players’ Player of the Year (Men): Viktor Axelsen (Denmark)

Players’ Player of the Year (Women): An Se Young (Korea)