The 42nd edition of the Badminton Asia Championships is set to take place from April 8 to 13, 2025, at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. This prestigious tournament will showcase the continent’s top badminton talent, competing for a total prize pool of $500,000.
Men’s Singles Contenders
The men’s singles draw boasts a lineup of formidable talent:
- Shi Yuqi (China): The world number one and top seed, Shi has demonstrated exceptional form, clinching both Super 1000 titles this season—the Malaysia Open and the All England Open. He aims to become the first Chinese male to secure the continental title since Chen Long in 2017.
- Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand): Seeded third, the Olympic silver medallist triumphed at the Indonesia Masters earlier this year and is poised to challenge the top contenders.
- Jonatan Christie (Indonesia): The defending Asian champion, Christie seeks to retain his title and further solidify his position among the elite.
- Loh Kean Yew (Singapore): The 2021 world champion is another key player to watch, known for his dynamic playstyle.
Women’s Singles: Chinese Contenders Poised for Success
With the absence of world number one An Seyoung from the Republic of Korea, the women’s singles competition presents a golden opportunity for other top shuttlers:
- Chen Yufei (China): The Olympic champion and top seed, Chen aims to capitalize on home advantage and secure the continental crown.
- Wang Zhiyi (China): The defending champion, Wang seeks to replicate her previous success and defend her title on home soil.
- Han Yue (China): As the third seed, Han adds to China’s strong representation and is a formidable contender.
- Yamaguchi Akane (Japan): The former world number one brings experience and skill, making her a significant threat in the draw.
- Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand): The Indonesia Masters champion is known for her finesse and tactical play.
- Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (Indonesia): The Olympic bronze medallist adds depth to a highly competitive field.
Indian Contingent: Facing Formidable Challenges
India fields a robust team of 24 players across five disciplines, each facing challenging draws:
The draws present challenging matchups for Indian shuttlers:
- Men’s Singles:
- Lakshya Sen faces Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chia-Hao, a recent finalist at the All England Championships.
- HS Prannoy is set to battle China’s Lu Guang Zu, a formidable opponent with the advantage of a home crowd.
- Priyanshu Rajawat takes on Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen.
- Kiran George faces a qualifier in his opening match.
- Women’s Singles:
- PV Sindhu begins her campaign against Indonesia’s Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo.
- Anupama Upadhyaya is up against Thailand’s former world champion Ratchanok Intanon, seeded eighth.
- Malvika Bansod faces China’s Fang Jie Gao.
- Aakarshi Kashyap takes on second seed Han Yue of China.
- Women’s Doubles:
- Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, ranked ninth, face a qualifier in their opening match.
- Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra also compete in the women’s doubles event.
- Men’s Doubles:
- Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi, along with Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy and Sai Pratheek K., represent India.
- Mixed Doubles:
- Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde, Sathish Karunakaran/Aadya Variyath, Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto, and Ashith Surya/Amrutha Pramuthesh form India’s mixed doubles pairs.
The Indian players are prepared for a challenging tournament, aiming to make significant strides in their respective categories.
Prize Money and Points Distribution
The total prize pool for the 2025 Badminton Asia Championships stands at $500,000, with singles winners receiving $35,000 and doubles pairs earning $37,000. The prize money distribution adheres to Badminton World Federation (BWF) regulations.
In terms of BWF World Tour levels, this championship is equivalent to a Super 1000 event, offering substantial ranking points crucial for Olympic qualification and world rankings.
Prize Money Distribution
The total prize pool for the championships is USD 500,000, with allocations as follows:
- Singles:
- Winner: $35,000
- Runner-up: $17,000
- Semi-finalists: $7,000
- Quarter-finalists: $2,750
- Last 16: $1,500
- Last 32: $500
- Doubles (per pair):
- Winner: $37,000
- Runner-up: $17,500
- Semi-finalists: $7,000
- Quarter-finalists: $3,125
- Last 16: $1,625
- Last 32: $500
Schedule and Venue
The tournament unfolds over six days:
- April 8: Qualifying Rounds
- April 9-10: Preliminary Rounds
- April 11: Quarter-finals
- April 12: Semi-finals
- April 13: Finals
All matches will be held at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, a venue known for hosting international sporting events.
