Basel,24 March (H.S.): Christo Popov had hoped for a different outcome at the YONEX Swiss Open 2025 final. Unfortunately, his shuttlecock drifted into the net after 47 minutes of play, leading to a swift defeat with scores of 18:21 and 3:21 against China’s Weng Hong Yang. Despite his loss, Popov remained light-hearted during the awards ceremony, capturing the bittersweet moments of the tournament. He walked away with valuable world ranking points, nearly 8000 US dollars, a watch, and fond memories, despite the disappointing finale.

In contrast, Weng Hong Yang celebrated his victory as he secured his sixth badminton tournament title. The 25-year-old left-hander enjoyed significant financial rewards, having amassed about 350,000 Swiss francs prior to this event, and winning an additional 15,750 US dollars for his success at this BWF World Tour Super 300 tournament. This year’s tournament offered a total prize pool of 250,000 US dollars, the largest amount yet, enhancing the prestige surrounding the competition.

Ultimately, while Popov and Yang faced starkly different experiences, the tournament showcased high-level badminton and provided meaningful rewards for both players, albeit in vastly contrasting manners.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar