Badminton is one of the most popular sports in the world, with more than 6 major levels of tournaments taking place every year. The BWF Tour tournaments are a series of international tournaments held worldwide with ranking points and prize money.
As of 17 February, four major tournaments have been held, the Malaysia Open, India Open, Thailand Open, and Indonesia Masters. Based on the performances in these tournaments, let’s take a look at the top 4 badminton queens who could rule in 2025.
An Se Young (South Korea)
An Se Young has achieved great heights in her career marked by a gold medal in every major international tournament. She began her journey at the young age of 15 and led her team to victory at the Asian Junior Championship in 2017. She also became the first Korean woman to win a gold at the BWF World Championships.
She won the Malaysia Open 2025 title in the women’s singles category, making her the first shuttler to achieve back-to-back victories in the category since Tai Tzu-Ying in 2019. She also claimed the title at the India Open by defeating Pornpawee Chochuwong. She won gold in the Paris Olympics 2024 and is currently ranked World Number 1.
Wang Zhi Yi (China)
Wang Zhi Yi is a 24-year-old badminton player from China who currently holds the ranking of World Number 2. She won five BWF World Tour titles in 2024 and also earned two Asian Championship titles. She claimed the Sudirman Cup and the Uber Cup twice and won a silver in the Asian Games in 2022.
She was the finalist of the Malaysia Open 2025 and reached the quarter-finals of the India Open however she had to withdraw due to an injury and it will be interesting to see her back after recovery.
Akane Yamaguchi (Japan)
Akane Yamaguchi is a highly accomplished badminton player who is known for her remarkable speed and flexibility. She became the youngest athlete to join the Japanese national team at the age of 15 and etched her name in history as she became the youngest player and the first Japanese to win a singles title at the YONEX Open.
She reached a career-high ranking of World Number 1 in 2019 and currently holds a ranking of World Number 3. Although she withdrew from the Malaysia Open and India Open due to a calf injury, she is still one of the biggest threats to others after she recovers as she holds numerous titles to her name. She won a gold and bronze twice in the World Championships. She also bagged a gold medal in the Asian Championships in 2019, and in Uber Cup in 2018.
PV Sindhu (India)
PV Sindhu is a two-time Olympic medalist. She’s currently ranked 16th in the world, but her career-high ranking is World Number 2. She led her country’s team to a gold medal in the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024, which was India’s first-ever medal in the event. She won the Syed Modi International title in 2024 and was a finalist in the Malaysia Masters.
After her recent marriage, she decided not to appear in the Malaysia Open, however, she participated in the Thailand Open and reached the quarter-finals. She made a comeback in the India Open and showcased that she’s still in the game after reaching the quarter-finals of the India Open 2025. Having won numerous titles throughout her career, she could give a tough game to her opponents in the upcoming tournaments of 2025.
Also Read: Major Badminton Events In 2025
