The best badminton players in the world gathered at a gala reception in Dubai on Monday night to recognize the BWF Players of the Year, ahead of this week’s season-ending BWF Dubai World Superseries Finals in the UAE.

Action in the Superseries Finals kicks off tomorrow at the Hamdan Sports Complex as the world’s best players battle it out until Sunday December 13 for the big prizes on offer. 

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And at the awards, it was a special night for both the men’s and women’s World Champions, with Chen Long of China and Carolina Marin of Spain taking home the Male and Female Player of the Year gongs.

China’s rising star and World Junior Champion in Mixed Doubles and Men’s Doubles Zheng Si Wei won the Eddy Choong Award for Most Promising Player of the Year, and for the first time, BWF honoured para-badminton players with the year-end awards.

Korea’s Lee Sam Seop was named Male Para-Badminton Player of the Year, while Helle Sofie Sagoy was honoured with Female Para-Badminton Player of the Year.

Lee, who took up badminton after he suffered an accident, said: “I’m honoured to receive this award. I was emotional when I won it because this was the first such award for para-badminton.”

Over the last two years, Long has emerged as the most consistent men’s singles player in the world. After a successful 2014, he continued to blaze a trail this year, winning five World Superseries titles and defending his BWF World Championships crown, as well helping China lift the Sudirman Cup.

 

 

Marin was in contention for the award along with Chinese duo Zhao Yunlei and Bao Yixin and India’s Saina Nehwal. The Spaniard started and ended the year on a perfect note – winning the All England in March and the Hong Kong Open in November. In between, she picked up three other World Superseries titles and retained her World Championships gold medal.

A delighted Marin admitted she had not expected to win the award, she said: “I thought Zhao would win it because she’s had a great year as well.”

“I’m very happy, because it’s affirming that you did something great during the year.”

Only the eight top-ranked players from the BWF Destination Dubai Rankings in men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles have earned a place in this week’s prestigious tournament, which sees them compete for a share of a $1million prize pool.

To qualify for Dubai the players had to amass points from twelve MetLife BWF World Superseries Tournaments held around the world throughout the year.

Tickets for the BWF Dubai World Superseries Finals are on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae. Prices start from AED 25, with those under 18 years entering for free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.