Friday, 17 May 2024

News | BWF World Tour Finals

In the realm of badminton, Carolina Marin has achieved remarkable success, with three world titles and an Olympic gold to her name. However, there is one major tournament that has eluded her: the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals. This year, Marin acknowledges that her recurrent knee problems have dampened her expectations for the event.

Marin, currently ranked No.5 in the world, admits that she is far from her optimal condition. She states, “I haven’t won this in my career, but I accept that I’m not at 100 per cent, not even close to 100 per cent.” Despite these challenges, Marin remains focused on each rally and aims to enjoy her time on the court while continuously improving her game.

This version of Marin is quite different from the one at the TotalEnergies BWF World Championships in August, where she confidently declared her readiness for a fourth world title. Although she fell short of that goal, reaching the final showcased her talent and determination.

However, in Hangzhou, Marin’s assessment of her physical condition is much more sobering. She admits, “I’m far from my 100 percent. Maybe I’m at 50 percent. At the World Championships, I was close to 100 per cent, but the knee sometimes affects my mental side. It’s really tough to come back from two serious knee injuries. The last one (ACL injury in the left knee) was tougher than the previous one. But this is what I have, and I want to keep going.”

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Marin’s motivation to win the title remains, but her focus has shifted. She no longer wants to force herself solely to pursue victory. Instead, she aims to continue improving and mainly focus on her own development as a player.

Axelsen Upset; Antonsen Impressive

Shi Yu Qi achieved a significant breakthrough by defeating his long-time rival Viktor Axelsen for the first time since 2017. The Chinese player had previously beaten Axelsen at the Dubai World Superseries Finals in 2017, ending Axelsen’s eight-match winning streak. In their recent Group A encounter, Shi displayed a high-intensity, mostly error-free game, while the Dane seemed burdened by pressure and struggled to bring his best performance. Shi emerged as the winner with a score of 21-19 21-19.

In the Group B clash between Anders Antonsen and Li Shi Feng, a tightly-fought battle was expected. Their last face-off at the YONEX All England in March had been a classic match. However, this time, Li Shi Feng appeared somewhat lost as he faced significant deficits in both games. Although he put up some resistance towards the end, the gap was insurmountable, and Antonsen secured victory with a score of 21-18 21-12.

Antonsen expressed his joy at the win, highlighting the difference between this match and the one at the All England tournament. He described the previous encounter as one of the most memorable matches in his career, praising its extremely high level of play.

FAQs

Q: What is the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals?
A: The HSBC BWF World Tour Finals is a prestigious badminton tournament that brings together the top players from around the world to compete for the title.

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Q: How many times has Carolina Marin won the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals?
A: Carolina Marin has yet to win the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals, despite her illustrious career and multiple world titles.

Q: What are Carolina Marin’s current challenges?
A: Carolina Marin is currently grappling with recurrent knee problems that have impacted her performance and led to tempered expectations for the tournament.

Conclusion

The HSBC BWF World Tour Finals continues to captivate badminton fans with thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes. Carolina Marin’s journey to claim this elusive title is marked by her resilience and determination, even in the face of physical challenges. Similarly, the clash between Axelsen and Shi Yu Qi showcases the intense competition and the ever-changing dynamics of the sport. As the tournament progresses, players like Antonsen continue to impress with their skill and perseverance. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from the world of badminton.

To learn more about the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals and stay up to date with the latest news and updates, visit Carnegiecentre.