Chong Wei named Player of the Year

Lee Chong Wei receiving his Male Player of the Year Award from BWF deputy president Gustavo Salazar in Dubai ahead of the World Superseries Finals.

PETALING JAYA: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei received a boost ahead of the World Superseries Finals after he was named the Male Player of the Year.

The 34-year-old has enjoyed a successful year with three Superseries titles - Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan - as well as a silver medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August

And it was enough to pip teammates Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, Denmark's Jan O Jorgensen and Olympic gold medallists Chen Long and Fu Haifeng-Zhang Nan, both of China, for the award which was announced at the Players' Reception and Gala Dinner in Dubai on Monday.

It is the fifth time that Chong Wei has won the award. He was also named the best player in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013.

The Penangite will now attempt to win his fifth Finals title.

He is drawn in Group B with South Korea's Son Wan-ho, Hong Kong's Angus Ng Ka Long and Denmark's Viktor Axelsen. He takes on world No. 6 Wan-ho in his first match on Wednesday.

Malaysian's women's doubles shuttler Woon Khe Wei also received a pleasant surprise after she bagged the Best Dressed Award for the female category.

 

Awards

Male Player of the Year - Lee Chong Wei (Mas)

Female Player of the Year - Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi (Jpn)

Most Improved Player of the Year - P.V. Sindhu (Ind)

Eddy Choong Award for Most Promising Player of the Year - Chen Qingchen (Chn)

Male Para-Badminton Player of the Year - Lucas Mazur (Fra)

Female Para-Badminton Player of the Year - Karin Suter-Erath (Sui)

Best Dressed Award (male) - Viktor Axelsen (Den)

Best Dressed Award (female) - Woon Khe Wei (Mas)