Badminton is surely very fun, but mastering this discipline demands a lot of preparation and accuracy. With some amazing accomplishments, some players have truly established themselves in the industry as legends over the years. Thus, we will examine the achievements of the seven greatest badminton players in history in this article.
Introduction
This article honors seven badminton legends whose extraordinary accomplishments have left them marked throughout the sport’s history. These pioneers completely dominated their times and raised the standard for the next generations. Not only does this list showcase their incredible abilities, but it also demonstrates their passion for the game.
Lin Dan
Because of his achievements and interesting style of play, Lin Dan, a Chinese professional badminton player, is considered the greatest master of all time. All types of sports fans are greatly inspired by his journey from a passionate teenager to an international celebrity. If you’re interested in badminton as much as he is, check this.
So, here’s a list of some of the big badminton titles he won:
- Olympic Gold Medals (2 times);
- World Championships (5 times);
- All England Championships (7 times).
He totally ruled badminton for more than ten years, and he was always nailing it at the top of the men’s singles rankings. Lin Dan plays with a mix of speed, strength, and smart moves. He is well-known for his incredible court skills and ability to predict his opponents’ decisions.
Lin Dan’s influence on badminton is way more than his titles. He really helped put badminton on the map, winning fans not just with his talent but also with his charm and confidence.
Though Lin Dan hung up his racket in July 2020, we can’t forget what he has done for badminton. The legacy of awesomeness, sticking it out, and inspiring others will continue to pump up young athletes today.
Lee Chong Wei
Lee Chong Wei: a man who definitely needs no introduction. Probably one of the most popular badminton players ever to exist, he was born on 21 October 1982 in Bagan Serai, Perak, Malaysia. From a pretty awesome beginning to becoming the number one badminton player in the world for ages, this guy’s story totally depicts how much ambition he is made of. People see him as a national hero in Malaysia.
The career of Lee Chong Wei has been incredible. Maybe he never won an Olympic gold or the title of World Championship, but his insane work ethic surely places him in the league of legends. He won three consecutive Olympic silvers, lorded over the BWF rankings, won the All England Open title four times, and a ton of other titles too.
The famous rivalry between Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan of China is what most people remember about Wei’s career. Their matches are considered some of the best in history, not only because of the players’ skill but also because of how different their personalities and styles of playing are.
However, all of Lee Chong Wei’s progress came to a standstill. He was detected with early-stage nose cancer. The devastating news made him withdraw from competitive badminton. Lee officially retired in June 2019 at 36 years old with his attempts at recovery despite his condition.
Rudy Hartono
Rudy Hartono is surely one of the best players of all time. His success in the 1960s and 1970s made him a master and icon and elevated his country, Indonesia, to the position of an international legend in the sport.
When Rudy Hartono participated in the All England Open Badminton Championships while being only 17, he gained attention from both pros and fans of the sport all over the globe.
The playing style of Rudy Hartono was a combo of speed, agility, and elegance. He played with precision, creating openings on the court and capitalizing on his opponents’ weak points.
While most of Hartono’s rivals were unable to compete against him, he faced serious challenges from Danish and Malaysian players. One of his main rivals was Svend Pri of Denmark, who got to beat him in the 1975 All England final.
Hartono ended his career in the late 1970s, but his contributions to the sport remained.
Gao Ling
Born in China in 1979, Gao Ling is also an icon of badminton. She became so famous thanks to her exceptional results in both mixed and women’s doubles.
She started playing at 8 years old by entering an amateur sports school. After joining the Chinese national team in 1997, Gao did not waste any time mastering her skills.
Gao Ling found enormous success in women’s doubles and mixed doubles — two events with different skills, strategies, and partnerships.
Known for her agility, impeccable net play, and calmness under pressure, what distinguished Gao was the ability to adapt to different partners and playing styles.
The most defining feature of this athlete was the fact that during matches, she smiled — even at the most tense and high-pressure moments of the competition, Gao was never without a cheerful face and composed disposition.
Taufik Hidayat
Taufik Hidayat was born on August 10, 1981, in Bandung, Indonesia. He is really one of the biggest names in badminton. He has a smooth style, super quick reflexes, and a tricky way of playing that totally changed the game.
Taufik was raised by a family that totally supported his sports dreams. Showing some serious talent as a kid, he began his badminton journey with the help of Iie Sumirat, who’s a pretty famous coach in Indonesia.
He is highly rated for his natural ability and technical skills on the court. He mixed deception, pinpoint accuracy, and speed to overwhelm opponents. One of his greatest weapons was his powerful backhand.
Taufik has competed with some of the most skilled players in the world, including his fiercest rivals, Lin Dan from China and Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia, two legends.
In 2013, Taufik retired and ended his relationship with the sport that shaped his life. He did not completely drop badminton, though, as he opened a training facility in Jakarta called the Taufik Hidayat Arena.
Check out some of his career highlights:
- Olympic Gold Medal (2004);
- World Champion (2005);
- Six-time Indonesian Open Champion;
- Record-Smashing Performance.
Carolina Marín
1993 saw the birth of Cariona Marín in Huelva, Spain. She is among the most famous female badminton players in history. Her aggressive style of play and unwavering perseverance are the main reasons for her fame.
At the age of eight, she started playing badminton in her birthplace of Huelva. She began as a flamenco dancer but quickly developed a passion for badminton.
At the age of 14, she moved to Madrid to train under longtime coach Fernando Rivas.
Carmina, to a great extent, is very famous for her wild speed, intensity on court, and tough mindset. Indeed, that aggressive style really keeps opponents at large with those quick smashes and slick net moves. She is particularly noted for her killer cross-court smashes that end the rallies and how she glides around the court like it’s nothing.
Besides, Carolina displays an unmatched mental strength and frequently unsettles her opponents with vociferous victory roars after every point won.
She is also known to be the first non-Asian woman ever to win an Olympic gold medal in badminton at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Peter Gade
Peter Gade was born in Denmark in 1976. He is surely a pivotal figure in European badminton and has served as an inspiration to innumerable players.
Gade had some serious natural ability, and you could plainly see how much he enjoyed the game from the beginning. The local coaches noticed his skills, and pretty soon, he was training at a higher competitive level.
Gade was famous for his sneaky shots, especially his crosscourt smashes and those tricky drop shots. Plus, one of the coolest things about Gade was his longevity. He stayed at the top of the game as one of the world’s best players for more than ten years.
Peter Gade played at the international level for over 15 years and scored heaps of wins. Check out some of his coolest achievements:
- World Number 1;
- All England Champion (1999);
- European Champion (5 times);
- Olympics and World Champs;
- The Thomas Cup and Team Success.
So Peter Gade wound up his professional badminton career in 2012 at the prestigious Copenhagen Masters in his home country. After hanging up his racket, he took up coaching and mentoring.
Conclusion
These seven players have stretched the envelope of skill and athleticism in badminton and also inspired millions around the world. These GOATs’ commitment, skill, and love for the game have made an impression that will be difficult to top, raising the standard for the following generation.