Latest news with #WorldTourFinals


New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Cash kings: Aaron-Wooi Yik surpass RM1 million in season earnings
KUALA LUMPUR: The China Open may have ended in heartbreak for Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, but the world No. 2 men's doubles pair can take comfort in hitting a major financial milestone. Despite falling short in the final, losing to Indonesia's Fajar Alfian-Shobihul Fikri, in Changzhou on Sunday, the runners-up finish earned Aaron-Wooi Yik a hefty US$70,000 (RM295,435), pushing their total prize money earnings this season to US$264,887.50 (RM1,117,957) — making them the first Malaysian shuttlers to surpass the RM1 million mark thus far this year. It was also the second biggest payday of the season for the 2022 world champions, eclipsed only by the US$74,000 (RM312,317) they pocketed for winning the Singapore Open in June. The pair's earnings from the China Open dwarfed the US$37,325 (RM157,530) they collected from lifting the Thailand Open title and the US$37,000 (RM156,158) from their Asia Championships triumph — both victories that came several months back. This year's China Open carried a US$2 million (RM8,440,998) prize purse, matching the elevated amount introduced in 2023 and maintained for three successive editions. It remains the second most lucrative event on the BWF World Tour calendar after the season-ending World Tour Finals, which boasts a US$2.5 million pot (RM10,551,250) The China Open's prize money still surpasses that of other Super 1000 tournaments such as the Malaysia Open, All England and Indonesia Open, each offering US$1.45 million. While Aaron-Wooi Yik lead the pack, women's doubles world No. 3 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are not far behind with US$206,317.50 (RM871,072) in prize money collected so far this season. The ever-reliable world No. 3 Pearly-Thinaah continued their strong form in Changzhou, reaching the semi-finals and pocketing a cool US$28,000 (RM118,174) for their efforts. It was another solid result to add to a season that includes several lucrative finishes — US$50,750 (RM214,190) and US$33,250 (RM140,331) for finishing runners-up at the Indonesia Open and Japan Open respectively, as well as US$37,525 (RM158,374) for winning the Thailand Open. Next on the list are world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who have quietly put together an impressive year. They have amassed US$146,143.75 (RM617,018), helped by their title wins at the Indonesia Masters and Malaysia Masters. World No. 3 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, the winners of India Open and runners-up of Japan Open, round off the top four earners with US$133,593.75 (RM564,099). With the business end of the season fast approaching, including the Denmark Open, French Open, China Masters and the season-ending World Tour Finals, the race for bigger paydays is far from over.


Malaysian Reserve
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Malaysian Reserve
Zii Jia no-show for China Open
KUALA LUMPUR — National professional singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia (picture) has pulled out from the 2025 China Open Badminton Championships. This was posted on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) website, which stated that the 27-year-old will not be competing in the July 22-27 championships to be held at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre Xincheng Gymnasium in Changzhou. However, there has been no official statement from Team LZJ regarding his pullout from the Super 1000 tournament. This is the second tournament in the past week that Zii Jia has withdrawn from, having also pulled out from competing in the ongoing Japan Open. Zii Jia injured his ankle during the World Tour Finals last December and made his return in March at the Orleans Masters, where he lost to Ireland's Nhat Nguyen 21-23, 7-21 in the quarter-finals. He then competed in the 2025 All England Championships in Birmingham from March 11-16, where he was knocked out in the first round by Hong Kong's Angus Ng Ka Long, who won 21-19, 16-21, 12-21. The world number eight subsequently withdrew from the 2025 Swiss Open in Basel, Switzerland, held from March 18-23, due to the same ankle injury. — BERNAMA


New Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Azriyn-Wee Kiong steal show from Sze Fei-Izzuddin at Japan Open
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani made a smooth start to their Japan Open title defence, but it was fellow independents Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong who stole the spotlight in Tokyo on Tuesday. World No. 26 Azriyn-Wee Kiong pulled off a gritty comeback to upset France's 18th-ranked Christo and Toma Junior Popov 13-21, 21-17, 21-19 in 58 minutes at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. The win was a rare highlight in what has been a tough season for the Malaysian pair, who have only reached the second round in five of their 13 outings this year. Their reward is a likely second-round clash against Denmark's world No. 4 pair Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in the Super 750 tournament. Meanwhile, top seeds Sze Fei-Izzuddin, last year's champions and now flying the independent flag, cruised past Canada's Kevin Lee-Ty Alexander 21-13, 21-15 in just 23 minutes. Since parting ways with the BA of Malaysia (BAM), the pair have bagged three more titles, reached the World Tour Finals final last December, and climbed to No. 1 in the world. However, they've not added to their silverware since winning the India Open in January, and their top ranking is under threat from world No. 2 compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik. Sze Fei-Izzuddin will next face either Japan's Hiroki Midorikawa-Kyohei Yamashita or Taiwan's Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi Lin in the second round. In women's doubles, world No. 42 Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee put up a decent fight against Japan's world No. 6 Rin Iwanaga-Kei Nakanishi before falling 17-21, 21-8, 21-8.


Sinar Daily
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Sinar Daily
Zii Jia no-show for China Open
This is the second tournament in the past week that Zii Jia has withdrawn from. 15 Jul 2025 04:08pm Lee Zii Jia - File pix KUALA LUMPUR - National professional singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia has pulled out from the 2025 China Open Badminton Championships. This was posted on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) website, which stated that the 27-year-old will not be competing in the July 22-27 championships to be held at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre Xincheng Gymnasium in Changzhou. However, there has been no official statement from Team LZJ regarding his pullout from the Super 1000 tournament. This is the second tournament in the past week that Lee has withdrawn from, having also pulled out from competing in the ongoing Japan Open. National professional singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia has pulled out from the 2025 China Open Badminton Championships. Bernama FILE PIX Lee injured his ankle during the World Tour Finals last December and made his return in March at the Orleans Masters, where he lost to Ireland's Nhat Nguyen 21-23, 7-21 in the quarter-finals. He then competed in the 2025 All England Championships in Birmingham from March 11-16, where he was knocked out in the first round by Hong Kong's Angus Ng Ka Long, who won 21-19, 16-21, 12-21. The world number eight subsequently withdrew from the 2025 Swiss Open in Basel, Switzerland, held from March 18-23, due to the same ankle injury. - BERNAMA More Like This


The Sun
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Lee Zii Jia withdraws from China Open 2025 due to injury
NATIONAL badminton star Lee Zii Jia has officially withdrawn from the 2025 China Open Badminton Championships. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed his absence on their website, noting that the tournament will proceed without the world number eight from July 22 to 27 at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre Xincheng Gymnasium. No official explanation has been provided by Team LZJ regarding his withdrawal from the Super 1000 event. This marks the second tournament Zii Jia has skipped in recent weeks, following his absence from the Japan Open. The 27-year-old has been struggling with an ankle injury sustained during the World Tour Finals in December last year. His return to competition at the Orleans Masters in March ended in a quarter-final defeat to Ireland's Nhat Nguyen. Subsequent appearances at the All England Championships and Swiss Open were also hampered by the same injury, leading to early exits and further withdrawals. Fans remain concerned about his recovery timeline as major tournaments approach. – Bernama