The BWF World Tour has proven itself to be the ultimate stage for showcasing the most exquisite badminton talents the world has to offer.
Unveiled on the 19th of March 2017 and soaring into action in 2018, the BWF World Tour emerged as a Grade 2 badminton tournament series, bearing the official seal of approval from the Badminton World Federation. It's like the Olympics of shuttlecock battles, where only the world's top singles and doubles players, both men and women, get to show off their skills. The BWF World Tour is categorized into six levels, listed in descending order as follows: World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 and Super 100. The BWF World Tour includes all the major badminton tournaments, and in India, the sport has been on a remarkable ascent over the past decade. Just last year, the Indian men's badminton team etched their names in history by winning the Thomas Cup. Now, let's delve into the achievements of some Indian players who have secured BWF World Tour titles in the Men's Singles category.
Priyanshu Rajawat: Rajawat has been making waves in men's singles badminton. In 2022, he gave it his all at the Odisha Open, a Super 100 tournament, but narrowly missed the gold, settling for the silver medal after a hard-fought match against Kiran George. Fast forward to 2023, Rajawat took on Denmark's Magnus Johannesen at the Orléans Masters, a Super 300 level tournament. The match was thrilling, and Rajawat emerged victorious, securing the gold medal and BWF World Tour Title.
Sameer Verma: Verma has achieved a remarkable feat, securing victory not once, not twice, but three times in the prestigious BWF World Tour titles. His journey commenced by winning the Swiss Open, a Super 300 level tournament, where he clashed with Denmark's Jørgensen. He didn't stop there; Verma's talents shone brilliantly at the Hyderabad Open, a Super 100 level event, where he faced off against Malaysia's Soong Joo Ven and secured another gold medal. Another battle was fought at the Syed Modi International, another Super 300 level tournament, against China's Lu Guangzu. Verma showcased his unwavering spirit and skill, turning the game around to clinch victory and his third BWF World Tour Title.
B.Sai Praneeth: Sai Praneeth's career in the BWF Tour events from 2015 to 2020 was nothing short of a resounding success. Notably, he achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the second Indian men's player to secure a spot in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. In 2019, Praneeth won a bronze medal at the BWF World Championships held in Basel, Switzerland. What sets Sai Praneeth apart is his unique distinction of being the sole Indian player to have clinched major titles across all three categories of badminton events: BWF World Tour Title, by winning the Swiss Open in 2019; BWF Super Series Titles, by his victory at the Singapore Open in 2017; and BWF Grand Prix Titles, where he won at the Canada Open in 2016, the Syed Modi International in 2017, and the Thailand Open in 2017.
Lakshya Sen: In men's singles badminton, Sen has undoubtedly etched his name in the history with a string of remarkable victories at the BWF World Tour. In 2019, he showed his mettle at the Dutch Open, a Super 100 level tournament, where he engaged in a thrilling showdown against Japan's Yusuke Onodera. The following year, Sen claimed the SaarLorLux Open, another Super 100 level event, where he battled against China's Weng Hongyang. In 2022, he elevated his game to a new level, winning the India Open, a Super 500 level tournament, by defeating Singapore's Loh Kean. In the same year at the German Open and the All England Open, he secured second place as a runner-up, and quickly bounced back in 2023 at the Canada Open, a Super 500 level event securing his fourth BWF World Tour Title.
In the history of BWF World Tour, we've witnessed a mesmerizing display of skill and determination. From its beginning in 2017 to the heart-pounding battles of 2023, it's clear that this world-class series has become a beacon of sporting excellence. As we continue to witness the remarkable feats of athleticism like some of the above Indian players, we can't help but anticipate the thrilling stories yet to unfold in the world of badminton.
