The Badminton World Federation (BWF) revealed the Player of the Year Awards nominees on Thursday. The prestigious awards aim at recognizing the achievements of badminton players and pairs in six categories, including two in Para badminton.
China's Zheng Siwei (L) and Huang Yaqiong compete in the China Open badminton mixed double final in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, November 10, 2019. (Photo: VCG)
The nominees were selected by the BWF Awards Commission based on their performances throughout the year, including several extraordinary shuttlers from China.
The list includes China's world No.1 mixed doubles pair Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong as well as world No.1 women's doubles pair Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan.
Zheng and Huang returned as nominees for Male Player of the Year and Female Player of the Year respectively for the second year in a row, following their steady performance in 2019 with six titles overall including at the BWF World Championships.
Huang was joined by teammates Chen and Jia, who recently retained the top world ranking and won five titles over the course of the year. Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-ying was also included.
China's Qu Zimo and Liu Yutong were nominated as Male and Female Para Badminton Players of the Year, respectively.
The winners will be announced at the opening ceremony and gala dinner of the upcoming BWF World Tour Finals in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province.
Here's the full list of nominees:
Male Player of the Year
Kento Momota (Men's Singles, Japan)
Highlight: Winner – TOTAL BWF World Championships 2019; 10 titles overall
Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (Men's Doubles, Indonesia)
Highlight: Eight titles on HSBC BWF World Tour 2019
Zheng Siwei (Mixed Doubles, China)
Highlight: Winner – TOTAL BWF World Championships 2018; six titles overall
Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan (Men's Doubles, Indonesia)
Highlight: Winner – TOTAL BWF World Championships 2019; three titles and 10 finals overall
Female Player of the Year
Tai Tzu-ying (Women's Singles, Chinese Taipei)
Highlight: Three titles on HSBC BWF World Tour 2019
Huang Ya Qiong (Mixed Doubles, China)
Highlight: Winner – TOTAL BWF World Championships 2019; six titles overall
Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota (Women's Doubles, Japan)
Highlight: Silver Medal – TOTAL BWF World Championships 2019; four titles on HSBC BWF World Tour 2019
Chen Qing Chen/Jia Yi Fan (Women's Doubles, China)
Highlight: Five titles overall, including Badminton Asia Championships 2019
Eddy Choong Most Promising Player of the Year
An Se-young (Women's Singles, South Korea)
Highlight: Five titles overall, including Yonex French Open 2019
Koki Watanabe (Men's Singles, Japan)
Highlight: Two titles; semifinals at Canada Open and Chinese Taipei Open
Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin (Men's Doubles, Indonesia)
Highlight: Winner – BWF World Junior Championships 2019
Kantaphon Wangcharoen (Men's Singles, Thailand)
Highlight: Bronze medal – TOTAL BWF World Championships 2019; semifinals at Indonesia Open
Male Para Badminton Player of the Year
Lucas Mazur (France): 9 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze medals
Qu Zimo (China): 12 gold medals
Pramod Bhagat (India): 10 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze medals
Dheva Anrimusthi (Indonesia): 9 gold, 1 silver medals
Female Para Badminton Player of the Year
Sarina Satomi (Japan): 8 gold, 1 silver, 5 bronze medals
Liu Yutong (China): 9 gold, 2 silver medals
Leani Ratri Oktila (Indonesia): 12 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze medals
Ayako Suzuki (Japan): 7 gold, 7 silver, 4 bronze medals
Most Improved Player of the Year
Michelle Li (Women's Singles, Canada)
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (Men's Doubles, India)
Kim So-yeong/Kong Hee-yong (Women's Doubles, Korea)
Praveen Jordan/Melati Daeva Oktavianti (Mixed Doubles, Indonesia)