[Saba Sports News] As fans were still reliving the thrilling matches at the Badminton Asia Championships, an annual income list of Chinese national badminton team players was quietly leaked, instantly sparking heated discussions among supporters.Unsurprisingly, the top spot on the list went to Shi Yuqi, the world’s top men’s singles player, with a total annual income of $1.17 million, making him the undisputed “top earner” of the team.
In terms of income structure, Shi Yuqi held an all-round advantage: $650,000 from tournament prize money, $440,000 from endorsements, plus $79,000 in club salaries and subsidies. Behind these figures lay his dominant performances throughout the year. Following closely behind was Wang Zhiyi, ranked second in the women’s singles world rankings. She secured second place with a total income of $950,000, making her the highest-earning female player on the list. Among this, $510,000 came from prize money and $360,000 from endorsements. The biggest surprise on the list was the strong showing from the mixed doubles discipline — the pair Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping ranked third and fourth respectively. Feng Yanzhe earned $730,000 for the year, while Huang Dongping earned $700,000. With their seamless chemistry and huge popularity, they attracted plenty of brand partnerships.
In my opinion, the so-called “2025 Chinese National Badminton Team Income Rankings” is not an official release. The data lacks credible evidence and mostly reflects optimistic media estimates of the athletes’ commercial value. It can be taken as a talking point but should not be regarded as factual.