After an exciting first month, the HSBC BWF World Tour takes a brief pause.
As we look ahead to the rest of a transitional season, players are setting their sights on what they aim to achieve in 2025. Their goals stretch beyond the court, with diverse aspirations that reflect both their commitment to the sport and personal growth.
Here’s a glimpse into what some of the stars are hoping to accomplish.
“I wanted to try something different, so I spent some time learning English in Australia. Watching the World Tour Finals made me miss badminton and I can’t wait to come back and set myself new goals.” – Chen Yu Fei
“Breaking into the top 10 and going even higher is one of my targets. I’d like to medal at the World Championships and other big events. I’d love to win a Super 1000 and more 750s.” – Alex Lanier
“If I were to give you a non-badminton goal, it would be to spend some time in Europe. We are often so busy with tournaments that we don’t get a chance to explore, but I’d love to see more of Europe in 2025 and indulge in some shopping!” – Toh Ee Wei
“I want to read at least six books .Last year, I managed 12 and I dedicated at least 30 minutes every night to reading.” –Gregory Mairs
“I will keep going. That’s my motto. There’s so much more to come from me and I hope I win the World Championships in a city (Paris) that is very special to me.” – An Se Young
“My target is the world title. That’s important to me. I also want to maintain my No. 1 ranking and win more titles.” – Shi Yu Qi
“I’d like to find the perfect work-life balance and have the courage to pursue interests outside my comfort zone.” – Kerry Xu
“Fulfil my full potential. Everyday there are different circumstances, new challenges to be had and I’m trying to get better.” – Viktor Axelsen
“This will be our first World Championships. That’s exciting as it’s such a big event and back in Paris. If you were to ask how much I want us (with Liu Sheng Shu) to win a title, I will tell you it’s a solid 10.” – Tan Ning
“My physical trainer said my body has changed a great deal over the last year, but I still don’t feel powerful in my upper body, so I want to work on building my upper body strength.” – Tomoka Miyazaki