Hangzhou, Dec 22 — World Tour Finals Badminton Championship. French badminton enjoyed its finest moment in history on Sunday as men’s singles star Christo Popov, widely known as “Little Popov,” captured the 2025 BWF World Tour Finals title, stunning China’s world No.1 and reigning world champion Shi Yuqi in the final.
World No.8 Popov produced a commanding performance in the men’s singles decider, defeating home favourite Shi 21–19, 21–9 to deny the Chinese ace a successful title defence. The victory marked the biggest triumph of Popov’s career and his second win in six meetings against Shi, while also making him the first French player ever to win the World Tour Finals.
It was France’s first title at badminton’s highest elite level, a historic achievement that even eclipsed earlier milestones this year, including the Indonesia Open Super 1000 mixed doubles triumph by Gicquel and Delrue, and Alex Lanier’s men’s singles victory at the 2024 Japan Open Super 750.
For Popov, the title carried exceptional significance. Prior to this tournament, his best result on the World Tour had been at Super 300 level. Making his debut appearance among the world’s top eight, the 23-year-old went all the way to the summit.
Five Wins from Five Matches
Popov completed the tournament with a flawless 5–0 record, further underlining his arrival as a genuine force on the world stage.
He enjoyed a red-hot run throughout the event, defeating the world’s top three men’s singles players — Shi Yuqi, Thailand’s former world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn (world No.2), and Denmark’s Anders Antonsen (world No.3). He also overcame Indonesia’s world No.5 Jonatan Christie and Japan’s defensive specialist Kodai Naraoka, giving his championship run unquestionable credibility.
“I’m Extremely Proud of Myself”
Speaking in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation, Popov said he was overjoyed by both the title and the manner in which he won it.
“I’m really, really happy, and winning the title undefeated makes it even more special,” he said. “Every match was extremely tough. I’m happy that I stayed focused at all times, and I’m very proud of the effort and energy I put in on court.”
The opening game was fiercely contested, but once Popov secured the first game, Shi’s level dipped noticeably. After the mid-game interval of the second game, Popov steadily pulled away, while Shi — seemingly hampered by physical issues — struggled to keep pace.
Popov also commented on his opponent’s condition during the final.
“He may have been slightly injured and tried different approaches. I had to cover every corner of the court, which was physically very demanding,” Popov said. “I was very happy to create a gap in the second game and close out the match.”
Blisters Hampered Shi Yuqi’s Movement
Settling for the runner-up spot, Shi revealed that foot problems had already surfaced during the group stage.
Shi explained that blisters on the sole of his foot affected his movement. “There was a blister under my big toe. It appeared after the group match against Chou Tien-chen, and it wasn’t related to the injury from the National Games,” he said. “I played through the pain in the semi-final against Kunlavut, but today it had a bigger impact.”
When asked whether he felt increasingly challenged by the depth of competition, Shi responded modestly.
“I think I’m the one challenging them,” he said. “There are many outstanding players. The other three men’s singles players shortlisted for Player of the Year played more matches than I did and also had strong results. The overall standard of men’s singles is definitely rising.”
Reflecting on 2025
As the season drew to a close, Shi reflected on his 2025 campaign and assessed his performance.
“I achieved some of my goals this year and made certain breakthroughs. I also tried some new things recently and gained something from them,” he said.
“I’d give myself an eight or nine out of ten. The missing one point actually means a lot — there are many details worth refining. In 2026, I hope I can push myself further and hold firm.”