All ages can enjoy the fast-paced, enjoyable game of badminton. It’s a wonderful way to be active, have fun, and spend time with loved ones. The game has changed significantly over the years, and we have witnessed some amazing players elevate their skills to an expert level. The best 10 badminton players of all time are listed below.
1. Lin Dan: The all-time best Chinese badminton player, Lin Dan, just announced his retirement from competitive badminton. He was unrivalled in his prime. He is the only badminton player to complete the elite world Grand Slam. He has won all of the major titles in the world, including two Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.ย
2. Lee Chong Wei: Professional badminton player Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia held the top spot for 199 consecutive weeks. In addition to earning a silver medal in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, he won three world championships in 2004, 2006, and 2011.
3. Peter Gade: Gade was the most accomplished male badminton player from Denmark in history. He won two European singles championships, four European championships, two world championship silver medals, one world championship bronze medal, one Thomas Cup gold medal, and he held the No. 1 ranking for a total of 56 weeks.
4. Zhao Jianhua: One of the all-time great badminton players was the former Chinese player. He was a formidable opponent because of his smashes, timing, and shot placement in particular. He held the top spot for 245 weeks while also capturing 56 international championships and two Olympic gold medals.
5. Taufik Hidayat: The badminton superstar from Indonesia won two Olympic medals in 2004 and 2008 while holding the No. 1 ranking for 69 weeks. He is the first male singles player in All England history to take home a gold medal. Additionally, he captured one Thomas Cup and three world championships.
6. Prakash Padukone: The greatest badminton player from India. He won the 1980 All England Open Badminton Championships and held the No. 1 ranking for 10 weeks. At the 2018 Asian Games, he became the first Indian to take home an individual bronze medal.
7. Poul-Erik Houmann-Larsen: One of the greatest Danish badminton players in history. Between 1997 and 2001, he won eight World Grand Prix championships in addition to the 1997 World Championship. In addition, he garnered 17 major victories and an Olympic gold medal in 1996.
8. Gong Zhichao: Possibly the greatest Chinese woman to ever play badminton. During her career, she held the No. 1 spot for 156 weeks while also winning four China National Championships, six Asian Championship gold medals, two world championships, and an Olympic gold.
9. Zhang Ning: For ten years, the Chinese badminton legend ruled the women’s singles competition. In 2004, she won two world championships in addition to one Olympic gold medal. During her career, she held the top spot in the world for 106 weeks.
10. Razif Sidek: The 1992 Olympic silver medalist in badminton and the 1994 Thomas Cup champion are both from Malaysia. In 1989, he had a No. 6 global ranking. His record of 22 straight victories in singles matches remains unbroken.
In conclusion, the sport of badminton has given rise to some of the top players in the world, whose brilliance and skill have astounded onlookers and motivated young competitors. Due to their outstanding accomplishments, the players described above are considered to be among the best of all time.