Big hitters: Olympic badminton’s biggest stars
With whip-crack smashes and heart-stopping rallies, it’s no wonder that badminton inspires so many people across the world.
Since its introduction to the Olympic programme at the 1992 Games in Barcelona, some amazing talent has been on show from nations across the world. Here, we’ve picked out some of today’s top stars, and others who we hope to see fighting for Olympic badminton gold at Tokyo 2020.
1. Carolina Marín, Spain, women’s singles
What can be said about Carolina Marín that hasn’t been said before? A role model on and off the court, she also happens to be a three-time world champion, four-time European champion and the reigning Olympic Champion.
Her accomplishments speak for themselves. Since winning the World Championship for the first time in 2014, Marín has been one of the most consistently dominant players in singles competitions.
She made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016 – and won gold. After dethroning the previous champion, China’s Li Xuerui, in the semi-final, she defeated youngster PV Sindhu from India in the final. Will anyone be able to topple Marín in Tokyo?
2. Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong, Malaysia, men’s doubles
For star-studded teams, you’ll be hard-pressed to find many better than Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong of Malaysia, who have a habit of winning medals wherever they compete.
The highlight of their achievements so far came at Rio 2016, when they won silver after a narrow defeat in the final against China’s Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan.
Their playing styles perfectly match each other’s, with Goh leading the attack, with Kiong covering the defence, making them one of the most feared duos on the doubles circuit. Could their reputation grow even further with success in Tokyo?
3. Lin Dan, China, men’s singles
Nicknamed Super Dan for a reason, China’s Lin Dan is considered by many to be the greatest badminton player of all time. When you look at his achievements, it’s a claim that’s difficult to contest.
Dan is a two-time Olympic champion – having claimed golds at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 – while having the distinction of completing the so-called Super Grand Slam, winning all nine badminton major world titles.
A left-handed player, his array of skills and techniques is remarkable. As the poster-boy for world badminton for more than a decade, he has more than lived up to the high expectations set by the sport and his own abilities. Whether or not he can bounce back from his Rio 2016 disappointment in Tokyo remains to be seen.
4. Nozomi Okuhara, Japan, women’s singles
Winning bronze at Rio 2016 was the launchpad that Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara needed to kickstart her career.
Since that fantastic result, the Nagano native has followed up with gold in the Uber Cup, the Asian Games, and – her biggest triumph yet – a hard-fought World Championship gold in 2017. This game was notable for being the longest match at the tournament, lasting almost two hours against PV Sindhu.
After showing her determination and stamina in that colossal victory, there’s a strong chance she’ll improve on her bronze at Rio 2016 when she competes at Tokyo 2020.
5. Lee Chong Wei, Malaysia, men’s singles
As far as consistency goes, Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei tops this list; he was ranked world number one for nearly four years – from August 2008 to June 2012.
However, the traditional big-two tournaments have thus far eluded him. Despite being a five-time Commonwealth champion, he’s been unable to translate his brilliance to the World Championships and Olympic Games.
A triple silver medallist in both – he lost to China’s Long Chen in Rio – he’s got the motivation to clinch gold. Whether he will is up for debate, but, with his machine-like play and iron-will, few would bet against it.
6. Gabby Adcock and Chris Adcock, Great Britain, mixed doubles
Wife and husband team Gabby and Chris Adcock could be Great Britain’s ticket to mixed doubles success in Tokyo 2020.
They’ve clinched golds at the last two Commonwealth Games – in 2014 and 2018 – and, in between, they took the World Superseries title in late 2015.
The duo made their Olympic debut at Rio 2016, but didn’t advance any further than the group stage. For Tokyo 2020, they’ll no doubt be setting their sights higher – if they reach the final, they’ll even have a chance of equalling the success of their predecessors, Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson, who won silver at Athens 2004.
7. PV Sindhu, India, women’s singles
A superstar of the modern game, PV Sindhu is a competitor for the present and the future.
In 2012, she broke into the top 20 Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings aged just 17 and has achieved remarkable success in a very short space of time.
Sindhu became the second Indian competitor to win an Olympic badminton medal with silver at Rio 2016, when she came up against Spain’s unstoppable Carolina Marín – who went on to show her huge respect for Sindhu.
Sindhu’s success has led her to become a global icon, as well as a recognisable face in her home country, and was named by Forbes’ as the seventh richest female athlete in the world in 2018. All she needs now is an Olympic gold medal.
8. Chen Long, China, men’s singles
China’s Chen Long is the reigning Olympic men’s singles champion, having outlasted 40 other competitors in a star-studded field to strike gold in Rio 2016.
He defeated South Korea’s Lee Chong Wei in a captivating final, winning straight sets – redemption for the London 2012 semi-final, which Wei won.
Success in major competitions had become something of a habit for Long during the two years prior to the Rio Games. Winning successive World Championships in 2014 and 2015, he is rightly regarded as one of the world’s most talented players.
With a talent pool of incredible depth, Chinese badminton has produced yet another star.
9. Viktor Axelsen, Denmark, men’s singles
Danish superstar Viktor Axelsen skyrocketed to fame in the badminton world with a straight-sets win over Lin Dan at the World Championships in 2017.
Introduced to the sport when he was six by his father, Axelsen has played a major part in Denmark’s domination of the European team scene.
His Olympic story began in Rio 2016, achieving a bronze medal in his debut Games.
Big things are expected of him at Tokyo 2020, when there will be hopes about him emulating the achievements of his countryman Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen, who achieved gold at Atlanta 1996.
10. Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi, Japan, women’s doubles
Misaki Matutomo and Ayaka Takahashi made Japanese history at Rio 2016: their win in the women’s doubles saw them claim Japan’s first-ever Olympic badminton gold medals at Rio 2016.
Matutomo and Takahashi are a formidable duo, who seem to play intuitively – it’s little wonder, as the two have played together since they were schoolmates, developing their game in tandem ever since.
At the Rio 2016 Games, they won a tight final game 21-19, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat against their Danish opponents, Christina Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter.
You can discover more lightning-quick Olympic badminton action from all these athletes and more on the Olympic Channel. Witness the world’s finest players do battle on a global stage with our exclusive videos.