The 2012 BWF Super Series was a season‑long circuit of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). It represented the sixth edition of the Super Series, a series inaugurated in 2007 to provide a structured calendar of high‑profile events for the sport’s top players.
Overview
- Organizer: Badminton World Federation (BWF)
- Season duration: January 2012 – December 2012
- Number of tournaments: Twelve regular Super Series events, followed by the season‑ending BWF Super Series Masters Finals.
- Event classification: Among the twelve events, five were designated as Super Series Premier tournaments, offering higher prize money and ranking points.
Structure and Points
Each Super Series tournament awarded world‑ranking points in accordance with BWF regulations, with Premier events granting a larger point allocation. Players accumulated points throughout the season; the top eight men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles pairs qualified for the Masters Finals.
Tournament Calendar
The 2012 schedule typically included the following events (in chronological order):
- Malaysia Open – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- India Open – New Delhi, India
- Indonesia Open – Jakarta, Indonesia
- All England Open – Birmingham, England (Premier)
- Singapore Open – Singapore
- Korea Open – Seoul, South Korea (Premier)
- Denmark Open – Odense, Denmark (Premier)
- French Open – Paris, France
- China Open – Shanghai, China (Premier)
- Hong Kong Open – Hong Kong
- Japan Open – Tokyo, Japan (Premier)
- China Masters – Changzhou, China
The season culminated with the BWF Super Series Masters Finals, held in Shenzhen, China, where the eight qualifiers in each discipline competed for the final titles and a larger share of prize money.
Significance
The Super Series functioned as the premier competitive circuit for professional badminton, influencing world rankings, sponsor exposure, and qualification for major multi‑sport events such as the Olympic Games. The 2012 season continued the BWF’s effort to globalize the sport, with events hosted across Asia and Europe and broadcast to an international audience.
Notable Outcomes
While specific match results and individual champion details vary by event, the 2012 season featured dominant performances from leading players such as Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei, Chen Long, Carolina Marin, and the pairs of Tian Qiang and Zhao Jianhua, reflecting the continued prominence of Asian athletes in the sport.
Legacy
The 2012 BWF Super Series contributed to the evolution of badminton’s professional structure and set precedents for subsequent seasons, including adjustments to tournament classifications and prize‑money distribution that were later incorporated into the BWF World Tour format introduced in 2018.