Victory against world number 1
Opposed in the final to the Chinese Shi Yu Qi, world number 1 and reigning world champion, Christo Popov achieved an exceptional performance by winning in two sets (21-19, 21-9). The resounding success caps off a near-perfect week for the 23-year-old, who did not lose a match throughout the tournament.
A flawless journey to the title
Before the final, Popov had already caused a sensation by beating the Japanese Kodai Naraoka in the semi-final (21-19, 21-8), thus becoming the first Frenchman to reach this stage in this prestigious tournament. He also dominated opponents much better ranked than him, demonstrating rare solidity against the best in the world.
«A victory for French badminton»
In an interview given after his victory, Christo Popov felt that he hoped that this success would become “ presque banal » for French players, highlighting the gradual growth of badminton tricolor on the international scene.
An endowment worthy of the feat
This prestigious victory is also accompanied by a bonus of 240,000 dollars (approximately 204,000 euros), a significant sum which rewards his title in World Tour Finals and which constitutes one of the greatest bonuses of his career to date.
Worth a look
