Author: Clément JUBAU
Let's take a look back at the performances of the 2025 Orleans Champions in this three-week Asian cycle, consisting of the Hong Kong Open (Super 500), the China Masters (Super 750) and the Korea Open (Super 500), which ended on Sunday.
In the men's singles, France's Alex LANIER (No. 7) only competed in the China Masters, where he put in a superb performance by eliminating Olympic champion Viktor AXELSEN (No. 30, Denmark), who was returning from injury. This impressive feat saw him reach the quarter-finals. Unfortunately, his run came to an end at this stage, as he was defeated by Anders ANTONSEN (No. 2, Denmark), who took revenge for his compatriot by winning in two sets: 21/18 21/14.
In the women's singles, South Korea's AN Se Young (No. 1) reached the final in both tournaments she took part in. At the China Masters, she won convincingly against HAN Yue (No. 3, China) 21/11 21/3, consolidating her world number one ranking thanks to the points she earned. However, at the Korea Open, she failed to win on home soil against World Champion Akane Yamaguchi (No. 4, Japan), who dominated her 18/21 13/21.
The Orléans Champions in men's doubles, South Koreans KANG Min Hyuk / KI Dong Ju (No. 24), had a difficult Asian tour. At the China Masters, they were stopped in the second round by World Champions KIM Won Ho / SEO Seung Jae (No. 1, South Korea) after an intense match: 21/17 15/21 16/21. Back home for the Korea Open, they failed to regain their form and were eliminated in the first round by a young Chinese pair, SUN Wen Jun / ZENG Wei Han: 22/24 21/14 19/21.
In women's doubles, South Koreans KIM Hye Jeong / KONG Hee Yong (No. 4) confirmed their consistency by reaching the finals of both tournaments. At the China Masters, they played a close match against China's JIA Yi Fan / ZHANG Shu Xian (No. 3), but lost in three sets: 19/21 21/16 13/21. However, at the Korea Open, they seized their opportunity and brilliantly won the final against Japan's Rin IWANAGA / Kie NAKANISHI (No. 6): 21/19 21/12.
In mixed doubles, the Danish duo Jesper TOFT / Amalie MAGELUND (No. 10) reached the quarter-finals at the Hong Kong Open, where they lost to another promising Japanese pair, Yuta WATANABE / Misaki MATSUTOMO: 17/21 14/21. Unfortunately, their run at the China Masters was no more successful, as they were eliminated by Hong Kong's TANG Chun Man / TSE Ying Suet (No. 7): 18/21 19/21.
Today, let's take a look back at the 2025 World Championships, which took place at the adidas arena from August 25 to 31. Many players who participated in the 2025 edition of the Orleans Masters Badminton were present, including the medalists.
Men's singles
SHI Yu Qi (No. 1, China) was crowned World Champion, defeating world No. 3 Kunvalut VITIDSARN (Thailand) : 19/21 21/10 21/18.
The 2025 Orleans Masters Champion, Alex LANIER (No. 7, France), reached the quarterfinals. He lost to China's WENG Hong Yang (No. 11) in two sets : 21/18 21/12.
Women's singles
Japan's Akane YAMAGUCHI (No. 4) won her third world title, defeating China's CHEN Yu Fei (No. 5) : 21/9 21/13.
World No. 1 AN Se Young, winner of the Orleans Masters in March, failed to win a second title in France, losing to CHEN Yu Fei in the semi-finals : 15/21 17/21.
Men's doubles
South Koreans KIM Won Ho / SEO Seung Jae (No. 1) confirmed their status as favorites by winning gold against China's CHEN Bo Yang / LIU Yi (No. 10) : 21/17 21/12.
KIM / SEO, who competed in this year's Orleans Masters, lost in the semi-finals to their compatriots KANG Min Hyuk / KI Dong Ju (No. 31).
It should be noted that the winners of the men's doubles at the 2025 Orleans Masters did not compete in the World Championships.
Women's doubles
China's LIU Sheng Shu / TAN Ning (No. 1) won in three sets against Malaysia's Pearly TAN / THINAAH Muralitharan (No. 2) : 21/14 20/22 21/17.
South Korea's KIM Hye Jeong / KONG Hee Yong (No. 5), winners of the 2025 Orleans Masters, reached the quarterfinals where they lost to Japan's Nami MATSUYAMA / Chiharu SHIDA (No. 3): 17/21 14/21.
Mixed doubles
Malaysia won its first world title in mixed doubles thanks to CHEN Tang Jie / TOH Ee Wei (No. 3), who defeated China's JIANG Zhen Bang / WEI Ya Xin (No. 1) : 21/15 21/14.
Denmark's Jesper TOFT / Amalie MAGELUND (No. 10), who won the title in Orléans, were knocked out in the second round after losing to the world No. 1 Chinese pair : 15/21 11/21.
