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Top 10 Badminton Players of all time

Chevalier Sports

Great Badminton Player

For ages, badminton has been a popular sport that has spread throughout the world because to its agility, speed, and accuracy. Many nations have produced exceptional badminton players, such as elite players like Lee Chong Wei, Lin Dan, Carolina Marin, and Tai Tzu-Ying, who have not only accomplished incredible feats but also had a big influence on the badminton rankings and motivated millions of fans.

In this piece, we will go through the top badminton players, the best badminton players in the world, and the greatest badminton players of all time.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) ranks badminton players according to how well they perform in BWF-approved competitions. The players’ top 10 performances over the previous 52 weeks are used to determine the ranking points. The quantity of points given to the players is determined by the tournament’s level and advancement. World Ranking, World Tour Ranking, World Junior Ranking, World Team Ranking, and Olympic/World Championship Qualification Ranking are the five different categories of rankings. 

The five badminton disciplines—men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles—have lists for each ranking. Players are seeded in tournaments, and eligible for big events, and their performance over time is indicated by the rankings.

The top 10 badminton players of all time will be ranked as we explore the finest badminton players. Their abilities, accomplishments, and general influence on the sport are the basis for our world badminton rankings. The top ten badminton players of all time will be covered in this article. In addition to dominating the badminton rankings, these players—including tennis greats like Lee Chong Wei, Lin Dan, Carolina Marin, and Tai Tzu-Ying—have motivated millions of fans worldwide with their talent, commitment, and sportsmanship.

Top 10 badminton players in the world:

Lee Chong Wei

1. Lin Dan

Many people consider Lin Dan to be one of the most outstanding athletes of all time and the best badminton player of all time. In addition to winning two Olympic gold medals, five World Championships, 6 All England Open titles, and two Asian Games gold medals, he is the only player to have won all nine major international titles.

Additionally, he won all nine championships by the age of 28, making him the only player to accomplish the “Super Grand Slam.” In addition to his passion and intensity on the court, he is renowned for his aggressive and unconventional style of play. He is still active and is known to his friends and admirers as “Super Dan.” He can be considered the best badminton player in the world of all time.

Accomplishments: Six-time All England Open champion (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2016), five-time World Champion (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013), and two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012).

Lin Dan
Gao Ling

2. Lee Chong Wei

One of the most reliable and durable badminton players of all time is Lee Chong Wei. He held the top spot for 348 weeks in total, making him the sole individual to hold the top spot continuously for over a year. The most successful Olympic badminton player missing a gold medal, he earned three silver medals in 2008, 2012, and 2016.

In addition, he won a record 46 Superseries titles and four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. In addition to his competition with Lin Dan, which was regarded as one of the best in sports history, he was well-known for his quickness and agility. He battled cancer and injuries before retiring in 2019.

Through his accomplishments and the high standards he established, Lee Chong Wei left an enduring impression on badminton, establishing an unrivalled legacy among badminton players and in the rankings.

Achievements: 46 Super Series titles, four Commonwealth Games gold medals (2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018), and three Olympic silver medals (2008, 2012, and 2016).

Lee Chong Wei
Taufik Hidayat

3. Gao Ling

One of the most accomplished and best badminton players of all time is Gao Ling. In the women’s and mixed doubles competitions, she took home four Olympic medals: two gold, one silver, and one bronze. Additionally, she won six gold medals at the Asian Games, three in each event, and five World Championships, four in mixed doubles and one in women’s doubles.

In addition to her pleasant and upbeat demeanor on the court, she was renowned for her dependability and consistency. After a lengthy and successful career, she retired in 2011. She can be considered as the world’s no 1 badminton player female in the sport.

Accomplishments: Six times Asian Games gold medalist (2002, 2006, 2010), five times World Champion (2001, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010), and four Olympic medalists (two gold, one silver, and one bronze).

Gao Ling

4. Taufik Hidayat

Among the greatest badminton players of all time in terms of skill and personality is Taufik Hidayat. He became the first player to win both the World Championship in 2005 and the Olympic gold medal in 2004. In addition, he won five Indonesian Open titles and three Asian Championships.

His backhand smash, regarded as one of the greatest shots in the sport’s history, made him renowned. His competition with Lin Dan, which resulted in some of the greatest badminton matches, was another well-known aspect of him.

Achievements: three-time Asian champion (1998, 2002, 2006), five-time Indonesian Open champion (1999-2002, 2006), Olympic gold medalist (2004), and world champion (2005)

Tony Gunawan
Taufik Hidayat

5. Rudy Hartono

Rudy Hartono came to define badminton when his sudden rise to fame shattered records. He won a staggering eight All England Opens which helped boost famed rankings even in present times. Furthermore, he earned a gold medal at the Olympic Games of 1972, an event during which badminton was regarded as a student sport.

From the 1970s to 1979, he brought four Thomas Cups to Indonesia’s trophy cabinet. Hartono’s influence and impact on badminton is deeply rooted in his powerful smashes and sharp net game. Apart from being incredibly skilled on the court, he made a huge impact on the sport, something that is not familiar in the past.

After playing relentlessly for 10 years in the sport, he decided to retire in 1981 and called off his career after a decade of maintaining first-place accolades in the World’s ranking.

Not only did Hartono become a legend within the world of badminton, but he boosted the fame and stature of the sport around the globe. From 1968 to 1976, he dominated the field and brought home an incredible eight All-England titles during his illustrious career showcasing his unrivaled prowess and dedication to the sport.

His accomplishments include eight All England Opens (1968-1974, 1976), four Thomas Cups (1970, 1973, 1976, 1979), and an Olympic gold medal in 1972.

Tony Gunawan
Tony Gunawan

6. Li Lingwei

Li Lingwei is a name that has become synonymous with badminton and for good reason. She was a counterpart and rival of Han Aiping, forever engraving her name in the badminton rankings through her remarkable feats. It is worth noting that Li Lingwei won two gold medals in the Olympics of ‘84 especially because badminton was a demonstration sport, and owing to this, she had the opportunity to showcase her abilities prior to it being recognized.

Aside from this, she also secured three titles in the world championships between 1983 and 1987, alongside five gold medals from the Asian Games between 1982 and 1990. Si Lingwei was undoubtedly one of the greatest badminton players of her time, as her playing style was exemplified through grace, speed, accuracy, and elegance.

Throughout her career, and in addition to Li Lingwei’s amazing accomplishments in sports, she has greatly influenced the sport of badminton and its rankings. In history, she is among the most complete and respected badminton players, which is evidenced enough by her induction into the Badminton Hall of Fame in 1998. With such achievements, it is undoubtful that she is regarded as one of the greatest badminton players of all time, and fingers crossed, her legacy shall live on forever!

Accomplishments: Five-time Asian Games gold medalist (1982, 1986, 1990), two-time Olympic gold medalist (1984, 1988), and three-time World Champion (1983, 1985, 1987).

Tony Gunawan
Rudy Hartono
Lee Chong Wei

7.  Tony Gunawan

Tony Gunawan, one of the greatest badminton players of all time, has represented both Indonesia and the US in major championships. Beginning his career with Indonesia, he and his partner Candra Wijaya won the World Championship in 2001 and the Olympic gold medal in 2000. After that, he relocated to the US in 2002 and obtained US citizenship in 2005.

He kept up his excellent play, winning three All England Open titles with various partners between 2001 and 2004 and another World Championship in 2005. He is considered by many to be among the greatest doubles players of all time.

Accomplishments: three-time All England Open champion (2001, 2003, 2004), two-time World Champion (2001, 2005), and Olympic gold medalist (2000)

Liem Swei King
Tony Gunawan

8. Morten Frost Hansen

Another renowned badminton player from Denmark is Morten Frost Hansen, who earned the moniker “Mr. Badminton” for his successes and services to the game. From 1982 to 1987, he won four All England Open titles and held the top spot in the world rankings for 12 years. During that time, he also won two European Championships and two World Cups. He was renowned for his endurance and tactical skill, which allowed him to outlast and outsmart his rivals.

Accomplishments include: winning the All England Open four times (1982, 1984, 1986, 1987), winning the World Cup twice (1984, 1986), and winning the European Championship twice (1984, 1986).

Tony Gunawan

9. Peter Hoeg Gade

One of the most popular and successful and top badminton players in Europe is Peter Hoeg Gade. He demonstrated his supremacy in the game by holding the top position in the world badminton rankings for an incredible 64 weeks. Between 1998 and 2010, Gade won five European Championships, demonstrating his ability to perform consistently at a high level. He has won four All England Open titles, which attests to his skill in one of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments.

Gade, who is renowned for his creative play, astounded both opponents and onlookers with his hallmark move, the cross-court slice called “the Gade.” He left a legacy of leadership and creativity in badminton when he ended his illustrious career in 2012.

Accomplishments: 22 Superseries wins, four All England Open victories (1999, 2001, 2004, 2006), and five European Championships (1998, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2010).

Tony Gunawan

10. Han Aiping

Many people consider Han Aiping to be among the greatest female badminton athletes of all time. When badminton was an experimental sport in the 1980s, she was the dominant player and took home two gold medals from the 1984 Olympics. In addition, she won three gold medals at the Asian Games from 1982 to 1990 and four straight World Championships from 1985 to 1991. She was referred to as “Iron Hammer” because of her combative style of play and strong smashes.

Accomplishments: Three-time Asian Games gold medalist (1982, 1986, 1990), four-time World Champion (1985, 1987, 1989, 1991), and two-time Olympic gold medalist (1984).

So, these were the top 7 legends from badminton who have enthralled us all over the years. Do you think we missed out on any shuttler that absolutely deserved a mention in this list?

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