KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 17 -- Chinese shuttler Chen Yufei became world's top women's singles in the latest world rankings released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) here on Tuesday.
Following her championship and the seventh title of the year at BWF World Tour Finals 2019 in Guangzhou, Chen replaced Tai Tzu Ying from Chinese Taipei, whom she defeated in the finals, to become the new world No. 1, reclaiming the position for the Chinese team since Li Xuerui in 2017.
As this year's major BWF tournaments drawing to a close after the World Tour Finals, the Chinese team will have three year-end No. 1 for 2019. Apart from Chen, women's doubles Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan and mixed doubles Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong consolidated their top rankings following their respective titles in Guangzhou.
In the men's singles, Japan's Kento Momota faces little challenges to his reign. He returned victorious in Guangzhou from the scene of his defeat 12 months ago, capturing the top-podium and setting a new record in men's singles of 11 titles in a season, overtaking Lee Chong Wei's 2010 record of 10.
China's Chen Long, who finished as the semifinalist in Guangzhou, ranks at third place while his teammates Shi Yuqi and Lin Dan rank at 8th place and 17th place respectively.
In the men's doubles, Indonesian pair Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo rank No. 1, but their compatriots Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan, who rank second, have won three big titles of the year - BWF World Tour Finals trophy to go with the All England Open and World Championships crown.