Momota Captures HSBC BWF World Tour Finals to Make IT 11 Titles in 2019

The curtain came down on the HSBC BWF World Tour 2019 in Guangzhou on Sunday as a number of the sport’s stars excelled on the big stage claiming the season-ending prize.

Kento Momota returned victorious from the scene of his defeat 12 months ago, capturing the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2019 with a gritty fightback against Anthony Sinisuka Ginting.

In doing so, Momota set a new record in men’s singles of 11 titles in a season, overtaking Lee Chong Wei’s 2010 record of 10.

“I am happy with this achievement and even want to praise myself as it is really hard to become champion consecutively,” said Momota.

“I am really glad to end this year with a title at such an international event.

“Although I broke the record of Lee Chong Wei, I don’t think I can be compared to him as a player and as a human being.

“I feel like I have not yet become a legend player, but I will work hard in order to continue playing well.”

Earlier, China’s Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong added the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals crown to their victories at the World Championships and all three Super 1000 titles this year.

In the process, they also captured the only significant title that eluded them last season, avenging their final loss to compatriots Wang Yi Lyu and Huang Dong Ping in the most ruthless fashion, 21-14 21-14 in just 35 minutes.

This is Zheng and Huang’s seventh title of the year, and their first since the China Open in Changzhou. Their victory today came after they fell in their last three finals – at the Korea Open, French Open, and Fuzhou China Open.

“We lost to them last year and we were determined to win this time,” said BWF Female Player of the Year, Huang Ya Qiong.

“It feels great that we are winning this tournament for the first time together. We lost our last three finals, so it’s good that we found our winning ways again.”

The vanquished duo of Wang and Huang admitted there was very little they could do.

“We were faced with many challenges but we couldn’t find any solution, that’s why we were trailing. We lacked the confidence to challenge them because we over-analysed the problem,” said Huang Dong Ping.

Chen Yu Fei captured her seventh title of the season from as many finals in downing Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, 12-21 21-12 21-17. As a bonus, the Chinese is likely to be elevated to world No.1 next week, becoming the first No.1 from China since Li Xuerui.

Chen Qing Chen/Jia Yi Fan made it a treble of titles for China on the day in winning the women’s doubles 21-14 21-10 over world champions Mayu Matsumoto/Wakana Nagahara.

In the final match, Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan won their third big title of the year in securing the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals trophy to go with the All England Open and World Championships crown.