Top 10 Male Badminton Players of All Time
Badminton is a two-player or four-player sport, which is hugely popular all over the world. It is a played using racquets and a feathered shuttlecock. It was included to become a part of the Olympic Games since the year 1992. It has 5 events, i.e. the singles of men and women, the doubles of men and women, and the mixed doubles. While it is essentially an indoor sport when it comes to competitions, because of the fact that wind affects the direction and speed of the feathered shuttlecock, it is often played as an outdoor sport as well, though only in case of recreational activity. Badminton players are extremely popular, owing to the rigor and skill they display. Let us take a look at the Top 10 Male Badminton Players of All Time.
Top 10 Male Badminton Players of All Time
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1. Lin Dan
Chinese professional badminton player Lin Dan was born on October 14, 1983 in Longyan, Fujian, and was nicknamed “Super Dan” by Peter Gade. He won the Olympic event twice, world championship five times and All England championship five times, and is regarded by many as the greatest singles badminton player of all time. Lin Dan achieved nine major titles in the badminton world and completed the “Super Grand Slam” by the age of just 28. He is also the first and the only player to achieve such feat. Lin Dan first achieved the Olympic gold in 2008 and defended the title again in 2012, and became the only player till date to achieve so. He achieved the Eddie Choong Player of the Year award twice in 2006 and 2007. He became the BWF Best Male Player of the Year in 2008 and voted the Most Valuable Player at the 2010 Asian Games in China.
2. Taufik Hidayat
Retired Indonesian professional badminton player Taufik Hidayat was born on 10 August 1981 in Bandung, West Java, and was widely known in media for his perceived rivalry with Chinese player Lin Dan. Hidayat and Lin Dan were often referred as the “arch rivals“. He achieved the Indonesian Open six times from 1999 to 2006. He also achieved the men’s singles event in badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics and achieved the men’s singles competition at the IBF World Championships in August 2005. Hidayat achieved the gold medal at the Asian Games twice in 2002 and 2006. He started training in badminton under Iie Sumirat at the SGS Club, Bandung, when he was young and later achieved the top places in the badminton world. Hidayat recently established a badminton training center called Taufik Hidayat Arena in Ciracas, East Jakarta, in November 2012.
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3. Lee Chong Wei
Malaysian Chinese professional badminton player Dato’ Lee Chong Wei was born on 21 October 1982 in Bagan Serai, Perak, and is the sixth Malaysian to win an Olympic medal. He achieved the silver medal in both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, and became the first Malaysian to reach the finals in the men’s singles event of the badminton at the Olympiad. Lee Chong Wei was described by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak as a national hero, and has earned the title Dato’ for his contribution in the Malaysian sports. Lee Chong Wei held the World Number 1 spot for 199 consecutive weeks from 21 August 2008 to 14 June 2012. He is the only Malaysian badminton player to hold the top position in the world ranking more than a year. His autobiography “Dare to be a Champion” was officially published on 18 January 2012.
4. Tony Gunawan
Chinese descended Indonesian born professional badminton player Tony Gunawan was born on 9 April 1975, and participated in badminton championships internationally for Indonesia and later for the United States. He is widely regarded by many as one of the greatest doubles players in the history of badminton. Tony Gunawan achieved numerous international titles during his representation of Indonesia from 1992 to 2001, and later coached and played for the United States since 2001. Tony Gunawan achieved the 2000 Olympic gold medal, the 2001 World Championships and the 2005 World Championships with three different men’s doubles partners. He with his partner Halim Haryanto also achieved the 2001 All-England Open besides winning the IBF World Championships in 2001.
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5. Rudy Hartono
Former Indonesian professional badminton player Rudy Hartono Kurniawan was born on August 18, 1949, and is widely regarded by many as the most famous players in the history of badminton besides being known as one of the greatest badminton players of all time. He achieved the prestigious All-England Championship consecutive seven times from 1968 to 1974. He achieved the World Championship on his only attempt of the title in 1980. Rudy Hartono is the brother of international female badminton player Utami Dewi Kinard. He led the Indonesian Thomas Cup team six times consecutively between 1967 and 1982. Hartono also helped Indonesia to win four consecutive world team championships from 1970 to 1979. He was inducted in the World Badminton Hall of Fame in 1997.
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6. Liem Swie King
Former Indonesian professional badminton player Liem Swie King was born on 28 February 1956 in Kudus, and is regarded by many as one of the world’s leading singles Badminton players in 1980s. He is one of the most dominant forces from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s. He is also known for the ferocity of his jumping smash and also for his amazing skills as a men’s doubles badminton player. He won the Central Java badminton championship at the age of just 15. King participated in First Djakarta Badminton Open Tournament in November 1972 and achieved the Central Java Governor Championship “Moenadi Cup” three years later. His life and worldwide achievement inspired an Indonesian movie to be made titled “King”. Liem Swie King was inducted in the Badminton Hall of Fame in 2002.
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7. Morten Frost Hansen
Former Danish professional badminton player Morten Frost Hansen was born on April 4, 1958, and was nicknamed “Mr Badminton” for his huge contribution to the world of Badminton. He held his position in the top three of the world rankings for twelve years when he represented Denmark in international badminton championships. He achieved the silver medal in the World Badminton Championships twice in 1985 and 1987. Hansen during his defeat in the second World Championship he participated made the headline “The World’s greatest badminton player may never be World Champion.” He achieved the All England Open Badminton Championships four times and won the European championship twice. Hansen achieved the Nordic championship each year from 1978 to 1984 and again in 1988. Hansen was inducted in the BWF Hall of Fame in 1998.
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8. Peter Høeg Gade
Retired Danish professional badminton player Peter Høeg Gade was born on December 14, 1976, in Aalborg, Denmark, and currently resides in Holte in Copenhagen. He is the husband of the former international handball player Camilla Høeg. He achieved European Championships in the men’s singles event consecutive five times and achieved All England Open Badminton Championships singles title in 1999. He held the top spot in the World Rankings from 1998 to 2001, and achieved 22 Grand-Prix titles during that time. Gade briefly recaptured the number one spot again on June 22, 2006. He achieved the Danish National Championship 10 times in his active career. He was named IBF World Badminton Player of the year in 1998, and achieved the Special Award of the DBF in 2006.
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9. Chen Long
Chinese professional badminton player Chen Long was born on January 18, 1989 in Shashi District, Jingzhou, Hubei, and was a part of the gold winning Chinese team at the 2010 Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur. He achieved both the boys’ singles and team event in the 2007 BWF World Junior Championships. Chen Long also won the Asian Junior Badminton Championships in 2007. He first achieved his professional individual title in 2010 at the Bitburger Open in Germany where de defeated Hans-Kristian Vittinghus in the final of the GP Gold event. He defeated Lee Chong Wei and won the 2013 All England Open finals. Chen Long recently defeated Lee Chong Wei again in the final of the World Championship at Copenhagen on August 31, 2014.
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10. Eddy Choong
Legendary former Malaysian badminton player Choong Ewe Beng was there with us from his birth on 29 May 1930, till he died on 28 January 2013. He also played men’s doubles with his brother David Choong besides his active career as a single player. He is widely regarded for his quickness, tenacity and stamina. Choong achieved the All England Open Badminton Championships four times and also won the men’s doubles event in 1951, 1952 and 1953 with his brother. He was a pioneer member of the 1955 Malayan Thomas Cup team. For his huge contribution to the badminton world, the Badminton World Federation bestows a special honor named Eddy Choong Player of the Year. Eddy Choong was inducted into the Badminton Hall of Fame in 1997.
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Badminton players are among the most popular and respected of indoor sportsmen in the world. This is because, they have to put in an enormous amount of practice, in order to ensure that they develop the right kind of skill set, as well as fitness and focus to play the sport. Badminton players are among the winningest athletes in the major tournaments, including the Olympics.