From the very first swing of the shuttle in January to the last title ceremony in December, 2025 will be remembered as a year influenced by the talent of three remarkable Koreans.
At the heart of this story is An Se Young. Her dominance reshaped expectations for a singles season. Alongside her are the dynamic men’s doubles team of Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae. Their teamwork, resilience, and consistency made them a force that few could resist.
Unrivalled Court Queen
If any storyline defined badminton over the past year, it was An’s impressive campaign. She rewrote the record books and captured the attention of fans worldwide.
At the season-ending HSBC BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, An secured her 11th title, matching the all-time singles record set by Japanese great Kento Momota. Her victory over defending champion Wang Zhiyi, in a tough three-game match, capped a year of nearly constant excellence.
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
In the 15 events she entered, An reached an amazing 12 finals, winning all but one. With only four losses in over 70 matches, she recorded the fewest losses in a 70-plus match season, achieving an astounding 94.8 percent win rate. This number surpasses that of legends like Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei during similar periods.
An remained unbeaten until May, with her first defeat coming in the Singapore Open quarterfinals against Chen Yu Fei. The Tokyo Olympic gold medallist was the only player to beat her twice that season, with the other loss occurring in a painful semifinal at the World Championships.
Ultimately, An’s remarkable form brought another milestone. She became the first player to earn over US$1 million in prize money within a calendar year. This achievement highlights the rewards of consistent performance at an elite level.
Powerhouse Pairing
While An made headlines in singles, Kim and Seo were crafting their own story of success.
Reunited early in 2025, Kim and Seo quickly positioned themselves among the best, showing a remarkable understanding of each other’s strengths. They combined powerful offense with solid defense and smart shot choices to dismantle even the toughest opponents.
Their hard work paid off greatly. By the time they reached the World Tour Finals, the duo had claimed 10 titles. In the Hangzhou final, they delivered a strong victory over Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang to reach a magical No. 11, setting a new record for the best season by a men’s pair, surpassing Chinese legends Li Yongbo and Tian Bingyi’s 1988 record of 10.
Seo finished with 12 victories when including the Thailand Masters he won with Jin Yong. This achievement marks a personal record few players have matched. It is the highest number of titles won by any player in a single HSBC BWF World Tour season.
As 2025 comes to a close, fans and commentators will be analyzing these accomplishments for years. A campaign of such sustained excellence is unlikely to be repeated anytime soon.
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