2021 Badminton Round Up
Though the year was filled with series of tournaments many were cancelled or postponed due to COVID issue the Badminton World Federation concluded its 2021 calendar successfully.
Here is a look back at the some of the incredible feats achieved by the players.
Tokyo Olympics
The Olympic organizing committee was forced reschedule the Olympic games to July 2021 in light of COVID-19 outbreak the thing were not clear until the last moment as the COVID issue was looming large in Japan. Eventually all the countries made it to the event and conducted the games without any issues.
Perfect Viktor
The Danish super star post COVID break has been a different player. Viktor played close to 13 tournaments, featured in 11 finals and won 8 titles. He also won the Olympic gold at the Tokyo Olympics and became the second European to do this.
Raise of Akane Yamaguchi & An Seyoung
The entire Nippon badminton team had a forgetful Olympics along with Yamaguchi. But since returned post Olympics the Japanese shuttler impressive run in Europe and at the Bali badminton festival. Winning the Denmark Open, French Open, and the most important of them all the BWF World Championships beating Tai Tzu Ying.
An Seyoung is one other women’s singles player who has shown some tremendous improvement in the last year. The South Korean youngster along with Akane Yamaguchi have set up an interesting rivalry in the past few months. The Korean had a fantastic run at the Indonesia Badminton festival in Bali winning all the 3 title along with the BWF World Tour Finals.
Unstoppable Sapsiree & Dechapol
The Thai world no.1s Sapsiree Taerattanachai & Dechapol Puavaranukroh have achieved unique run in the mixed doubles circuit. They have played close to 50 matches in the last 75 days, featured in 6 world tours, appeared in 5 finals, and won 4 titles back-to-back. They also have walked away with a gold medal at the BWF World Championships.
Peaking Youngsters
Loh Kean Yew and Lakshya Sen, both of who until the Indonesia badminton festival have never been considered as serious contenders. Loh rose to fame with his defeat of Kento Momota in the pre-quarterfinals at the Indonesia Open and at the same event he lost to Viktor Axelsen in the finals and ended up as runner up. Loh won the BWF World Championships and became the first Singaporean to achieve this feat and also avenged his loss as be beat Viktor in the opening round.
Lakshya Sen on the other hand has been consistent with his performances this year. Playing some fantastic badminton, regularly beating higher ranked players and making it to the quarters and semifinals in the European and Asian legs last few months. He too reached the semifinals of the World Championships and won a bronze medal too.
All in all this has been an great year for badminton and with three weeks gap the players return to court with Yonex-Sunrise India Open on 11th January 2022 and we hope the players will continue from where they left.