Top 5 Greatest Badminton Players of All Time
When it comes to sports, badminton has to be one of my favorite games. I would rather call it an addiction. Not only do I love watching it but equally love playing it. And then there come the greatest badminton players who I have always admired a lot.
These players and their intriguing performances are something I have always looked out for. They are not only an inspiration to me but many other youngsters who aim to have a career in badminton. Be it their style or talent, these players know how to steal the show.
Greatest Badminton Players of the World – 2024 Rankings
So, I have gathered up 5 of these badminton players who have never failed to make their nations proud. Let’s dig in and get to know all about them.
1. Lin Dan
Lin Dan is a former Chinese professional badminton player. He is said to be one of the best men’s singles and badminton players. He is also the only player to have completed the Super Grand Slam by the age of 28 only.
Dan’s all-time greatest accolades include winning 5 gold and 1 silver medal in the World Badminton Championship. He won 5 gold and 2 bronze in Thomas Cup along with 3 gold medals in the Asian Championship. He was named the best male athlete of 2010.
2. Taufik Hidayat
Taufik Hidayat is a retired Indonesian player but still one of the greatest badminton players to ever exist. He achieved the Indonesian Open six times and was also portrayed as an arch-rival in the media.
Hidayat has won about 27 international titles under his belt throughout his career. He also won gold, silver, and two bronze medals in the World Championship. Besides this, he has also won 3 gold, 1 silver, and two bronze medals in the Asian Games along with a singles title in 2004 at Athens Olympic Games.
3. Morten Frost Hansen
The legendary Morten Frost Hansen is a former Danish professional badminton player and stands third on the list. Media and all his fans nicknamed him “Mr. Badminton” for having won almost all the international top-level championships except the World Badminton Championships.
Morten won the Denmark Open seven times consecutively between 1980-1986. He also won the All-England Open Badminton Championship title four times in his entire career. Besides this, he also owns 2 silver medals that he won in the World Championship in the years 1986-87.
4. Han Aiping
Next, I have Han Aiping, the greatest female badminton player of all time who always kept China’s head high with pride. Although she has died but is never taken off the list of greatest badminton players. She has proved on behalf of every woman that there is nothing they aren’t capable of doing.
Aiping dominated the international women’s singles in the 80s which is her greatest win. She owns 5 gold medals and 3 silver medals in total that she won at various championships. Apart from that, she also won the title of the Seoul Asian Games in 1986. She also won the Japan Open twice and the Malaysia Open thrice and was inducted into the Badminton Hall of Fame in 1998.
5. Lee Chong Wei
Lastly, I have a former Malaysian badminton player Lee Chong Wei who surely deserves to be on the list of greatest badminton players. He is the only player from Malaysia to hold the world’s no.1 spot for more than a year.
Lee has won 2 silver medals at the Olympic games along with 1 gold medal at the Asian Championship in 2006. He also achieved a total of 4 gold medals in the commonwealth games along with 1 gold at the Southeast Asian games. He has been BWF Player of the Year four times in his career and won the Penang Sportsman Award a total of 6 times to date.
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to the greatest female badminton player it has to be the Japanese Legend Akane Yamaguchi. She won the gold medal in women’s singles at BWF World Championship in 2021 which is her most recent win.
Lee Yong Dae from South Korea is the most successful badminton player of all time. He has achieved both the men’s and mixed doubles. He also made it to the world’s no.1 ranking with 4 different partners. Lee Yong Wei is the second most successful badminton player after him.
Prakash Padukone is a former Indian badminton player and is said to be the father of badminton. He was the first ever Indian player to have won the All-England Open Badminton Championship and was ranked the world’s no.1 player in 1980.
Conclusion
Although almost all of these players have retired but are still said to be the greatest badminton players to ever exist. Their immense hard work and struggles are largely acknowledged by all and their greatness will never fade away.
Please leave a review below and let me know what you think of these players. Thank you!
