The Thai people have gradually forgotten about the 33rd SEA Games.
Sports news outlets in Thailand are gradually reducing the frequency of articles about the 33rd SEA Games to focus on another major event: the 2025 BWF World Tour Finals badminton tournament.
For sports fans in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the appeal of the prestigious BWF World Tour Finals 2025 badminton tournament is no less than that of the regional multi-sport event.
In the world of badminton, the BWF World Tour Finals, established in 2018, quickly rose to the same level of prestige as the Olympics. Considered the "final of the year," it brings together the best players and is a title that any top athlete aspires to conquer.
Traditionally, the 2025 World Tour Finals will bring together the eight strongest players or pairs in five categories: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles. The tournament will feature 16 singles players and 48 doubles players, representing the best of world badminton in a single season.
Badminton has long been considered a popular sport in Southeast Asia, and it is also one of the few professional sports in the region where countries can reach world-class levels. The World Tour Finals is clear evidence of this status, with a significant proportion of Southeast Asian players participating.
At this year's tournament, Thailand has 5 players participating, Indonesia has 8, and Malaysia made a strong impression with 10 players competing in the 2025 World Tour Finals. Sports media in all three countries dedicate separate sections to badminton, with a level of coverage comparable to football.
The excitement surrounding the World Tour Finals was palpable even during the SEA Games preparation phase. The Indonesian team decided to retain all their top male players to focus on the world tournament, rather than participating in the SEA Games. Even Kunlavut, Thailand's world number 3 in men's singles, did not compete in the singles event at the SEA Games held on home soil.
At the World Tour Finals, Kunlavut is expected to compete for the championship as he is in a group with Antonsen (Denmark), Popov (France), and Christie (Indonesia). The remaining group includes top names such as Shi Yuqi, Li Shifeng, Chou Tien-Chen, and Naraoka, promising intense matches right from the group stage.
In the women's singles, Putri Wardani of Indonesia is considered quite young compared to top competitors like An Se Young or the Chinese players. Indonesian fans therefore place more hope in the doubles events, especially the men's doubles, where they have two pairs of players capable of causing upsets.
Malaysia also has a similar strategy, with all 10 players competing in doubles. With a well-balanced and experienced team, Malaysian badminton is expected to be strong enough to compete for at least one championship at this prestigious tournament.
The BWF World Tour Finals 2025 will take place from December 17th to 21st in Hangzhou, China. This marks the third consecutive year that the city has been chosen to host the world badminton finals, demonstrating Hangzhou's growing importance on the international sporting map.
This year's tournament also marks a new milestone in prize money, with the total prize pool reaching $3 million, an increase of over half a million dollars compared to last year. In each category, players or pairs of players are divided into two groups, competing in a round-robin format to select four teams for the semi-finals.
Historically, Thailand has won the World Tour Finals twice, while Indonesia has claimed the title once. This record continues to motivate Southeast Asian players to enter this year's tournament with high determination.
