Badminton - Champion of Champions
Badminton rules were formulated and the sport was standardized in Europe, but most of the prominent players belong to China, Malaysia, and Indonesia. However, the sport is loved and widely played in Europe too.
Players win points by participating in graded tournaments. The World Championships and the Olympics determine the world champion of the year. Players are ranked in all the five categories men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
Here are some of the prominent players.
Gao Ling
Ling is a Chinese badminton Doubles champion popular for her consistent performance and sporting smile. She won four Olympic medals, two Gold medals in Mixed doubles in 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics, a Silver medal in Women’s doubles in 2004 Summer Olympics, and a Bronze medal in Women’s doubles in 2000 Summer Olympics. She also won four World Championship titles, one World Cup, five Uber cup and three Sudirman Cup titles.
Saina Nehwal
The current worlds Women’s Singles Champion is from India. She won a Bronze medal in 2012 London Olympics, and is the first Indian to win an Olympic medal for Badminton. She won a Silver medal at 2015 World Championship held at Jakarta. Saina is the first Indian woman to become world number 1 badminton player. In addition, she is the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships.
Li Lingwei
Li is a former Chinese badminton Champion who dominated the sport during the 80’s. She won many Singles as well as Doubles Championships. She won two Gold medals, one Silver medal in Singles, and a Gold medal and a Silver medal in Doubles at World Championships. She retired in 1989, three years before Badminton was included in the Olympics; so she never won an Olympic medal. She carried the Olympic flag during the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Lin Dan
Lin Dan is widely considered to be the best Singles Badminton player. He won two consecutive Olympic Gold medals for men’s Singles at 2008 and 2012 Olympics. He is also a five time World Champion, having won the title in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013. He is the first and only player to have won nine major titles in Badminton: Olympics, World Championships, Thomas Cup, World Cup, Super Series Masters Finals, Sudirman Cup, All England Open, Asian Games, and Asian Championships.
Taufik Hidayat
Taufik is a former Indonesian Badminton Champion who won Indonesian Open six times. He is popular for forceful smashes, backhand shots, drop shots, and tricky net shots. He won Olympic Gold for Men’s singles in 2004 Olympics and a World Championship in 2005.
Lee Chong Wei
Lee Wei is a Malaysian Badminton champion of Chinese descent. He was ranked as the World’s top Champion for 199 consecutive weeks. This man won two Olympic silver medals in 2008 and 2012, three Silver medals in World championships in 2015, 2013, 2011, and a Bronze medal in World Championships in 2005.
Tony Gunawan
He is a former Indonesian Men’s Doubles Champion of Chinese descent and has been playing for United States since 2002. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest doubles Badminton players. He won an Olympic Gold at Olympics in 2000 and is the World Champion in Men’s Doubles in 2001 and in 2005.
Rudy Hartono
Rudy Hartano is a former Indonesian Badminton star and is one of the greatest men’s singles badminton champion in the history of the sport. He won the prestigious All England Championship eight times consecutively from 1968 to 1974 and in 1976, and also the World Championship in 1980.
Morten Frost Hansen
Mortean Hansen, a former Danish badminton player and coach is fondly called Mr. Badminton for he was one of the top three world’s best Badminton players for twelve years. He won almost every international Championship, but he only won two Silvers at World Badminton Championships in 1985 and 1987. He dominated the All England Open Badminton Championships, European Championships, and Nordic Championships in the 80’s. As a successful coach he steered the Danish team to win over 20 major international titles.
