In 1992, badminton was included in the Olympic Games consisting of five events: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Many of the players who have played in the past and present have been exceptional, and a sport of this stature is sure to have several standout athletes. Listed below are the top Men’s Singles Badminton Players of all time.
#8 Morten Frost Hansen
Morten Frost, also known as “Badminton’s First Millionaire,” dominated European and world badminton from 1976 to 1991, spending twelve years among the top three players in the globe. He was a spectacular athlete with fluid footwork; his game was a hybrid of traditional singles with clears (lobs) and drops, with smashes usually reserved for weak returns. In 1998, he was inducted into the BWF Badminton Hall of Fame for his outstanding performance in the 1980s, which included back-to-back European gold medals in 1984 and 1986, as well as two silver medals at the World Championships in 1985 and 1987. He had a good run at the 1985 and 1987 Olympics, winning two Silver medals in the process.
#7 Peter Gade
Peter Gade topped the World ranking table for four years in a row from 1998 to 2001. Gade’s five European Championships titles in the men’s singles event and his All-England Open Badminton Championships singles championship in 1999 cemented his legacy in badminton history. Fast attacks, fluid footwork, and continual pressure are all hallmarks of his game.
#6 Son wan-ho
Son Wan-ho, a well-known athlete in the game, was praised for his defensive abilities and ability to remain calm in stressful situations and was acclaimed as the world’s number one in the Men’s Singles in May 2017. He has won the BWF World Championship, World Tour(Three Titles), and International challenge/series(one runner-up).
#5 Chen Long
Chen Long is a badminton player from China who was born on January 18, 1989. He is the 2016 Olympic winner, as well as a two-time World and Asian champion. Chen was a former World No. 1 who held the top spot in men’s singles for 76 weeks between December 2014 and June 2016. “Be yourself,” his philosophy, is certainly a mentor to many young badminton players. He has also won 18 gold, 9 silver, and 6 bronze medals at international competitions such as the World Championships, the 2012 London Olympic Games, the Sudirman Cup, the Thomas Cup, the Asian Games, the Asian Championships, the East Asian Games, the World Junior Championships, and the Asian Junior Championships.
#4 Kento Momota
Kento Momoto, a Japanese native, is widely recognized as one of the most talented players of this decade. His comfort on the court, distinct playing talents, and mastery of strokes and smashes surely earned him a spot on our list. He has been dominating the badminton globe for a while with his sublime methods, making it very tough for his opponents to get through with his strengths in his agility, skill, swift footwork, and brilliance in offense and defense.
Also read: Top 5 performances of Kento Momota
#3 Lee Chong Wei
Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who was born in Malaysia, is the only Malaysian badminton player to have held the World No. 1 ranking for more than a year, including a 199-week run from August 21, 2008, to June 12, 2012. In 2008, 2012, and 2016, he won three Olympic silver medals in the Men’s Singles event and dominated the Badminton Asia Championship in 2006 and 2014. Malacca Governor Moha Khalil Yaakob bestowed upon him the title of “Datuk Wira.”
#2 Lin Dan
When we talk about the most important player in badminton, the term “Lin Dan” is automatically mentioned. He is one of the best shuttlers in the history of badminton. He has earned the nickname “Super Dan”. His highest career record was 666 career wins, making him a two-time Olympic gold winner, five-time World Champion, and six-time All England Champion. Known for his aggressive style and top-notch defense, he was nearly unstoppable during his prime.
#1 Victor Axelsen
Axelsen is a vital figure and a backbone for the Danish squad, winning many gold medals at the European Men’s Team Championships. The Danish badminton player is the first singles player in BWF World Tour 1000 history to win all 1000 titles in a single season. He is recognized as one of Denmark’s most significant athletes, having won gold in both the 2020 Olympics and the World Championships.
