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Badminton players play the racquet sport, badminton. This sport is played by two competing individuals or two opposing teams consisting of two players each who hit a shuttlecock back and forth across the net using their racquets. Badminton is a very popular sport that originated in the mid 19th century in British India. Competitive badminton events in five categories were first held at the Olympic Games in 1992. The popularity of badminton stems from the fact that is it very easy to play and can be played in small spaces. It is a much loved recreational sport with millions over the world playing badminton in order to get some exercise and keep fit. Being a professional badminton player is a challenging task. The players need to possess excellent speed and agility combined with stamina and endurance. Striking the shuttlecock precisely also calls for explosive strength and good hand to eye coordination. Badminton is an extremely fast paced sport that calls for quick reflex actions. Players also need to develop their technique and footwork in order to perfect the game. This section provides you information about the life and works of various famous badminton players from all over the world.
With 666 career wins, including two Olympic and two World Cup golds, Lin Dan is one of the veterans of Chinese badminton. He is the only player to achieve a Super Slam, winning all nine major badminton titles. Known for his fitness and attacking style, Dan retired at 37.
Chen Long is a Chinese competitive badminton player best known for winning a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the men's singles event in Rio de Janeiro. Chen has also won gold medals at World Championships, Asian Games, and Asian Championships. A former world number 1, Chen has also won the Sudirman Cup on five occasions so far.
P. V. Sindhu is an Indian badminton player. In 2016, she won the Olympic silver medal in Rio de Janeiro, becoming the first Indian woman to receive an Olympic silver. Sindhu became a national icon following her performance in the 2016 Olympics. In January 2020, she was honored with the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award.
A former world no.1, Saina Nehwal holds the feat of being the only Indian female player and overall the second Indian player to achieve this ranking. She is the first Indian female to have bagged in an Olympic medal in badminton. She was also awarded India's third highest civillian award, the Padma Bhushan.
Malaysian badminton player Lee Zii Jia has gold medals in the Asian Championships, the Asia Team Championships, and the Southeast Asian Games. He began his training in badminton at age 6 and later joined the Bukit Jalil Sports School. He made headlines when he was banned by the Badminton Association of Malaysia temporarily.
Arjuna Award- and Padma Shri-winning Indian badminton player and former world number 1, Prakash Padukone was the first to win the All-England Open Badminton Championship from India. A World Cup and Commonwealth Games champion, he co-owns Olympic Gold Quest. He is also known as Bollywood star Deepika Padukone’s father.
The second Indian badminton player to win the All-England Open Badminton Championships, Indian badminton star Pullela Gopichand now coaches the Indian national team. He was 11 when he began playing the sport. An Asian Championship bronze winner, he has been awarded countless honors, such as the Arjuna Award and the Padma Bhushan.
Former world number one in singles Li Xuerui has 14 Superseries titles in her kitty. She is also a former Olympic gold medalist. Known for her attacking stance, she ruled the badminton scene before an injury at the Rio Olympics interrupted her career. She retired from international badminton in 2019.
Retired badminton player Xie Xingfang is a former singles number one and a two-time world champion. She has won countless medals, including an Olympic silver, an Asian Games gold, and a World Cup gold. She was also known for her high-profile relationship with badminton sensation Lin Dan.
Former badminton player Fu Haifeng is known as one of the most successful men’s doubles players in history. Along with partner Cai Yun, he has earned an Olympic gold. The duo is also the only doubles pair with four world titles and was named to BWF's Hall of Fame.
A 2-time Olympian, Indian badminton star Jwala Gutta was born to a Chinese mother and an Indian father and began training under Padma Shri-winning coach S. M. Arif at age 6. She is an 8-time South Asian Games gold medalist and a Commonwealth Games gold medal winner.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist, Zhang Nan mostly won games in mixed doubles with his partner Zhao Yunlei. He has won medals in all major events, such as the Sudirman Cup and the Asian Games. Post-retirement, he became a doubles coach and was then made the chairman of the CBA.
Cai Yun is a Chinese retired professional badminton player who specialized in the men's doubles event. A four-time World Championship winner, Cai also won silver and gold medal in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, respectively. Considered the greatest men's doubles player ever, Cai Yun also won six Sudirman Cups and five Thomas Cups during his illustrious playing career.
Soh Wooi Yik is a Malaysian professional badminton player who achieved international acclaim when he won the bronze medal in the men's doubles event at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Soh Wooi Yik has also won medals at Asian Championships, Southeast Asian Games, and World Junior Championships.
Misbun Sidek is a Malaysian former badminton player best known for winning the bronze medal in the men's doubles event at the 1980 World Championships in Jakarta. He has also won medals at important tournaments like World Cups, Thomas Cup, Southeast Asian Games, and Asian Championships. Sidek is currently serving as the team director of the national junior badminton team.
Goh V Shem is a Malaysian professional badminton player best known for winning the silver medal in the men's doubles event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Renowned for his offensive style of play, Goh V Shem has also won medals at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Asian Championships, and Southeast Asian Games.
