At the 2024 Korea Masters, athletes from five countries stood victorious on the podium. Singles titles were claimed by Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand and Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia, each marking their first win of the season.
Vitidsarn secured his gold medal after a significant gap since his World Championship victory over a year ago. Facing a strong competitor, Wang Zhengxing from China, he clinched a close 21-18, 21-18 win. Reflecting on this achievement, Vitidsarn noted the importance of this victory: “Really happy because I hadn’t won a title this year,” he said. “This tournament is special and I need to keep it going. I still have an injury, but I could control it. I need points for the (HSBC BWF) World Tour Finals, and there are only two tournaments left.”
Wang Zhengxing also commented on Vitidsarn’s adaptability: “Kunlavut was able to capitalize on chances on the court, making adjustments – especially when I was leading and he was behind. His ability to adapt was better than mine.”
For Wardani, this win ended a title drought that had lasted since April 2022 when she won the Orleans Masters (Super 100). She had not claimed a Super 300 title since May 2021 at the Spain Masters. Entering the final against Han Qianxi, the reigning Baoji China Masters champion, Wardani kept control throughout the match, finishing with a 21-14, 21-14 scoreline within 40 minutes. Afterward, Wardani expressed her joy: “I feel very happy today I am able to be on the podium as the champion; my last time was in Spain 2021,” she stated. “I just went in with a ‘nothing to lose’ attitude. In the last two tournaments in Taipei and Hong Kong I lost in the finals, so at this tournament I just played like I had nothing to lose.”
In men’s doubles, Olympic bronze medalists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik took a step toward qualifying for the World Tour Finals by winning their first title since October’s 2023 Denmark Open. The Malaysian duo overcame the new pairing of Jin Yong and Kim Won Ho, winning in a close three-set match, 21-23, 21-19, 21-14. Chia discussed their journey back to form: “After the Olympics, Wooi Yik was recovering from an injury to his toe,” he explained. “We are happy that we are slowly getting back. We shouldn’t have made so many unforced errors, so I was a bit frustrated.”
Chinese pair Guo Xinwa and Chen Fanghui continued their successful year, winning their third title in 2024 from four final appearances. Ranked world No. 21, they secured a 21-10, 21-12 victory over Dejan Ferdinansyah and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja. Chen Fanghui expressed her pride: “First of all, I’m really happy because this is an affirmation of all our recent training. And then, just taking it one game at a time, all the way up to today’s final. Each game has been a little better than the last, and it definitely brings me more confidence.”
In women’s doubles, local favorites Kim Hye Jeong and Kong Hee Yong delighted the home crowd by defeating the second-seeded pair Li Yi Jing and Luo Xu Min 21-14, 16-21, 21-18. The win was particularly special for Kim and Kong, who last competed together at the Singapore Open in 2019. Kong shared her joy with fans: “It’s been a long time since we’ve had the chance to compete together, and standing on the top of the podium makes us very glad.”
Photo credit: BWF
