Kunlavut Vitidsarn Rises to World No. 2 After Winning 2025 Asian Championships

According to today’s BWF ranking update, Kunlavut Vitidsarn from Thailand has climbed to world number 2 after winning the 2025 Asian Championships — displacing Jonatan Christie and Viktor Axelsen.

The 23-year-old player made history as Thailand’s first men’s singles player to win the Asian Championships title in 63 years — adding to his 2023 World Championship title and Paris Olympics silver medal.

The final against Lu Guang Zu ended early when the Chinese player had to retire in the second game due to a back injury at 21-12, 11-6. Meanwhile, Jonatan Christie now ranks 6th worldwide after being eliminated in quarterfinals, and Axelsen dropped to 4th position due to his absence at European Championships.

“Honestly, before the match I didn’t expect to win in Ningbo,” Vitidsarn revealed. “I felt every match was difficult, and I’m happy to finally win the title and beat a Chinese player in the final. Every Chinese player is very tough to face, and it’s really not easy to beat them.”

This victory marks a major milestone in Kunlavut Vitidsarn’s career, cementing his position among the world’s elite players.

His rise to the top of the rankings highlights his consistent performance on the international circuit and sets the stage for more thrilling competitions ahead.