To understand the “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT) in women’s badminton, one must understand that this sport demands the lungs of a marathoner and the wrists of a surgeon. The women on this list did not just win; they redefined the physics of the court.

The Pantheon of Shuttlers: Quick Reference

1. Zhang Ning: The Iron Lady of Longevity

The undisputed matriarch. In a sport that usually retires its stars by 25, Zhang Ning reached her peak in her late 20s and early 30s. She is the only female singles player to successfully defend an Olympic title, winning gold in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008).

Her game was built on height and intimidation. She utilized a steep, punishing smash and a relentless tactical mind that allowed her to outlast opponents half her age. She didn’t just play the game; she governed it.

2. Susi Susanti: The Soul of Indonesia

Poetry.

If you watched Susi Susanti play in the early 90s, you weren’t watching a match—you were watching a ballet. She was famous for her incredible flexibility, often finishing shots in a full leg split to keep the shuttle alive.

She won Indonesia’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in 1992. Her victory was so significant it brought an entire nation to tears. She was the master of the “long rally,” a defensive specialist who would wait for her opponent to tire before striking with surgical precision.

3. Carolina Marín: The Spanish Storm

Ferocity.

Before Carolina Marín, women’s badminton was almost exclusively dominated by Asian powerhouses. Marín changed that with a scream. She brought an aggressive, high-intensity style that relied on speed and mental warfare.

She is the only woman to win three World Championship titles. Marín plays every point like it is a battle for survival. Her left-handed angles are notoriously difficult to read, creating a “slingshot” effect that catches even the best players off balance.

4. Tai Tzu-ying: The Magician

Magic.

Tai Tzu-ying does not play badminton; she creates illusions. She is widely considered the most talented player to ever pick up a racket, even if her trophy cabinet lacks the Olympic Gold of her peers.

Her “deception” is her trademark. She can disguise a hard smash until the very last millisecond, only to drop the shuttle gently over the net. She held the World No. 1 ranking for a record 214 weeks. To watch Tai is to see the court as a canvas where the shuttlecock is the brush.

Also Read | Top 10 Strikers of All Time in Serie A History 

5. An Se-young: The New Standard

Machine.

As of 2025, An Se-young has transitioned from a “prodigy” to a “legend.” She is often called the “Female Lin Dan” because of her nearly impenetrable defense and her ability to win titles in bunches.

In 2023, she won nearly every tournament she entered. By 2024, she secured the Olympic Gold in Paris. She moves with a mechanical efficiency that makes the court seem smaller for her opponents. She is the future and the present of the sport, combining the defense of Susanti with the modern power of Marín.

The Mental Chess: How They Won

To the casual observer, they are just hitting a bird. To the expert, they are manipulating four corners.

1. The Lift: Pushing the opponent to the back to open the front.
2. The Drop: Forcing the opponent to lung forward.
3. The Smash: The finishing blow.

The women on this list mastered the “Geometry of the Court.” They knew exactly where their opponent’s center of gravity was and moved the shuttle to the opposite pixel.

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Since its inception in 1949, many teams have featured in the competition, but only a few have managed to dominate.

So here are the teams that have won the most titles in Thomas Cup history.

6. India – 1

India has been going through a badminton revolution since the 2010s. And that paid rich dividends when the men’s team stormed into their first Thomas Cup final in 2022.

When they reached the finals, they made sure to return with the gold. The title-winning team consisted of players like Lakshya Sen, Srikanth Kidambi, Prannoy HS, and the pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty.

India won their group stage matches against Germany, Canada, and Chinese Taipei before upsetting Malaysia and Denmark in the quarter-final and semi-final, respectively. They were up against defending champions Indonesia in the final, which they went on to win by 3-0, sealing their first Thomas Cup title.

5. Japan – 1

Japan are the other Asian team with one title victory in the men’s event. The Japanese stunned the Malaysians in the 2014 edition held in New Delhi, India.

Japan sneaked in all three wins in the group stage against England, Hong Kong, and Denmark. They defeated France in the quarter-final before overcoming the mighty China in the semis. 

In the final, Japan faced fierce competition from Malaysia, with the contest being decided in the third set of the fifth match. Japan won the final by 3-2 to clinch their maiden title.

4. Denmark – 1

Denmark are the only non-Asian team to claim the Thomas Cup. They achieved this extraordinary feat in 2016. 

The Danish bagged two easy wins against South Africa and New Zealand before sneaking a close victory against Chinese Taipei in the group stage. They cruised to the final after hard-fought victories against Japan and Malaysia in the quarter-final and semi-final, respectively.

To win their maiden gold, Denmark had to put in hard yards to overcome the Indonesian challenge in the final. The Danish shuttlers defeated Indonesia by 3-2.

3. Malaysia – 5

Malaysia are one of three Asian teams to have won the Thomas Cup multiple times. The Malaysians were the inaugural champions, winning the 1949 edition against Denmark.

Their second title came three years later, taking down the United States of America (USA) in the final. Malaysia made a hat-trick in 1955 by bowling away Denmark to win their third gold.

Malaysia’s fourth Thomas Cup title came in 1967 after they broke Indonesia’s title-winning streak. After a gap of 25 years, the Asian team inscribed their name on the Thomas Cup for the fifth time by defeating Indonesia in 1992. 

2. China – 11

China are the second-most successful men’s team in Thomas Cup history. They have won 11 titles, showcasing their dominance in the tournament, more so in the 21st century.

In this century alone, China have clinched gold seven times, which includes a streak of five consecutive titles. The Chinese won their first-ever title in 1982, overcoming Indonesia to snap their four-title streak.

Then, between 1986 and 1990, they added three trophies, beating Indonesia (1986) once and Malaysia (1988 and 1990) twice. From 2004 onwards, China racked up five gold medals in a row.

China’s 10th title win came in 2010 as they nailed down Japan in the final, while their most recent victory came in 2024 against Indonesia.

1. Indonesia – 14

Indonesia top the chart, with 14 titles to their name. That makes them the most successful team in the Thomas Cup history.

Indonesia is known for producing some of the finest badminton players. And their dominance in the Thomas Cup testifies to it.

They added their maiden title back in 1958 and went on to win the next editions. They returned to the top for four consecutive years between 1970 and 1979.

Five years later, Indonesia clinched their eighth title in 1984 before having a command over the title for five editions from 1994 to 2002. Indonesia had to wait for 18 years to add their 14th title to the cabinet. They overcame the Chinese challenge in the 2020 final.

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And some take it a notch higher by generating the fastest smashes using all their energy to shatter records. India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy holds the record for the fastest smash, clocking 565 kmph, although it came in a controlled facility.

But we have also seen shuttlers recording the fastest smashes in badminton matches with finesse. So in this article, let’s look at the five fastest smashes recorded in badminton matches.

5. Kunlavut Vitidsarn | 419 kmph (260 mph)

Kunlavut Vitidsarn makes it to the fifth spot thanks to his rocket smash. The Thai shuttler’s smash came at the right time, as it tilted the match in his favour.

In the 2023 Singapore Open, Vitidsarn was looking to advance from the round of 32. He was up against Taiwan’s Wang Tzu Wei, with the final set standing at 26-26.

But then Vitidsarn’s 419 kmph smash gave him the lead and eventually went on to win the match by adding another point.

4. Lakshya Sen | 420 kmph (261 mph)

The new badminton sensation in India, Lakshya Sen, has recorded the fourth-fastest smash in a badminton match. He sent down a lightning-quick shuttle during a singles match in the 2023 Canada Open.

It was the final of the tournament, with Sen pitted against China’s Li Shi Feng. The Indian badminton player hit a smash of 420 kmph in the first set, giving no chance to his opponent.

3. Mads Pieler Kolding | 426 kmph (265 mph)

Mad Pieler Kolding once held the top spot but now sits in the third position on this list. The Danish shuttler held the record for six years before our number-one player surpassed him by miles.

With a height of 2.05 meters, Kolding produced a smash of 426 kmph. He did so in the 2017 Premier League Badminton while playing for Chennai Smashes against Delhi Acers in a men’s doubles match.

Kolding, paired with Chris Adcock, executed the powerful smash against the duo of Vladimir Ivanov and Ivan Sozonov. He lived up to his team’s name, didn’t he?

2. Prannoy HS | 428 kmph (266 mph)

The second Indian to feature on the list, Prannoy HS, occupies the second spot. He surpassed Kolding’s record just by a whisker.

In the 2023 Japan Open, Prannoy faced Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the quarter-finals. With the score reading 13-17 in the first set, the Indian shuttler put his full power behind the shuttle to generate a speed of 428 kmph.

Prannoy’s 428 kmph shot is the second-fastest smash in a competitive badminton match.

1. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy | 500 kmph (311 mph)

Well, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy also tops the chart in badminton matches. So he can generate top speeds not just in controlled environments but even in high-intensity matches.

Satwik is the only shuttler to cross the 500 kmph barrier in badminton’s history. He scripted history in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Korea Open.

Satwik was up against the Japanese pair of Hoki Takuro and Yugo Kobayashi, along with his doubles partner Chirag Shetty. During the first set of the match, Satwik logged the 500 kmph smash, making it the fastest in badminton.

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The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has severe rules in place to punish players for their misconduct during a match. The chair umpire and the referee who oversees badminton matches have the authority to penalise players for their on-court misconduct.

You will often see the umpire giving yellow, red, or even black cards if they find a player not adhering to rules. But what do these cards signify? And when does the umpire issue it?

In this article, we’ll learn about yellow, red, and black cards used in badminton.

Yellow Card in Badminton

Let’s begin with the yellow card, which acts more like a warning for a player to not repeat an offence. If the chair umpire comes across any breach of official laws by a player, they will issue a yellow card.

The umpires generally caution players about their on-court behaviour before raising a yellow card. They only do so if they feel the concerned player is making the offence again and again. But, sometimes, the umpire may issue a yellow card on the first instance as well.

Once a player receives a yellow card, the umpire announces it as a ‘warning for misconduct’ while BWF will impose a monetary fine on them.

Red Card in Badminton

The red card comes second when a player receives two yellow cards. This might be a result of a repeat offence conducted by the player.

The umpire calls out the concerned player’s name and announces a ‘fault by misconduct’. If a player receives a red card, then their opponent will receive one point for making a fault. Plus, the player will have to pay a hefty fine.

A player may receive another red card if they continue to breach the rules and regulations.

Black Card in Badminton

The black card tops the above two cards and comes with a severe penalty. So a player wouldn’t like to receive a black card,

Why so? If a player goes to extreme lengths during their behaviour on the court, they may face immediate disqualification from the match and the tournament. Plus, the BWF may impose a ban on the player for a certain period.

If the umpire reckons a player is engaging in excessive misconduct, they will call the referee, informing them about the breach and a possible disqualification. Following that, if the referee thinks the player needs to be disqualified, then they will hand over the black card to the umpire.

The chair umpire will raise the black card, announcing the player’s name along with ‘disqualified for misconduct’. Then the player will be disqualified from the whole tournament immediately.

What comes under misconduct?

There are a few actions a player needs to refrain from doing in a match. If they get involved in any one of them, then the umpire will issue any one of the cards.

So the umpire will consider the following actions as misconduct.

• If a shuttler delays the game for unnecessary reasons.
• If a player distracts their opponent by shouting or making any gesture.
• If the player leaves the court without seeking the umpire’s permission.
• If a player throws the racket in any direction on the court.
• If the player damages the shuttle purposefully.
• If a player threatens the opponent, umpire, referee, or line judge.
• If the player receives coaching during a rally.

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The country’s governing body, the Badminton Association of India (BAI), organises these BWF tournaments every year, which sees participation from top-ranked players.

So here are the BWF badminton tournaments organised in India.

India Open

The India Open has been the top badminton tournament in the country since its inception in 2008. Initially, the BWF categorised the event under the Grand Prix Gold level.

Three years later, the tournament made it to the BWF Superseries events, with the status remaining till 2017. As the global body restructured its tournament system in 2018, the India Open became part of the Super 500 level under the World Tour series.

But now the competition is part of the Super 750 level, with the BWF upgrading the status in 2023. The India Open is just one of the six Super 750 tournaments, offering prize money of US$950,000.

The BAI organises the India Open every year in January at the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. Many Indian badminton players and top-ranked international players have featured in the tournament.

Syed Modi International Badminton Championships

In 1991, the Uttar Pradesh Badminton Association established a top-level tournament in honour of Syed Modi. He was a former Indian shuttler who won the national championship eight times and a gold at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in the men’s singles category.

The Syed Modi Badminton Championships was a national tournament for over a decade before it went international in 2004. Five years later, the BWF accorded the event a Grand Prix status.

In no time, the Syed Modi International Badminton Championships saw participation from Indian and foreign shuttlers. In 2011, the BWF decided to promote the event to the Grand Prix Gold category.

In 2018, the competition saw its inclusion in the BWF World Tour circuit along with the India Open, though under the Super 300 level. Now, the Syed Modi International Badminton Championships takes place every year in November-December at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium in Lucknow.

Guwahati Masters

The Guwahati Masters is a newer addition to the BWF calendar. The tournament debuted in 2023, with the BWF sanctioning it as a Super 100 event.

This is the second BWF Tour Super 100 event allotted to India after the Odisha Masters. Guwahati’s Saru Sajai Indoor Sports Complex hosts the tournament in December every year.

The inclusion of a new tournament in the BWF’s structure shows India’s growing stature in the world badminton circuit.

Odisha Masters

The Odisha Masters is another recent entry in BWF’s events, having started a year earlier than the Guwahati Masters. The Indian state of Odisha is turning out to be an emerging sports hub in India.

And their commitment towards hosting a major international badminton tournament proves it further. The BAI has been organising the Odisha Masters since 2022, with the BWF categorising it under the Super 100 level.

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But there are a few things about the racket sport that will equally amaze, if not more. So here are the seven interesting facts about badminton you perhaps didn’t know!

A Feet Sport!

As mentioned earlier, badminton is a racket sport. But before the sport evolved into how we play it today, Chinese people used to hit the shuttle with their feet rather than the racket.

Shocking, isn’t it? Well, what’s more surprising is that the Chinese people still play it. They call it Jianzi, with the shuttle having four feathers glued into a rubber sole. 

It is almost similar to how we play badminton, with two players playing against each other or a group of five to ten people playing it.

From Battledore and Shuttlecock to Poona to Badminton

When the sport was in its earlier stage in mediaeval times, people called it battledore and shuttlecock. But in the mid-19th century, the sport started taking shape in the town of Poona in India.

The officers from the British Army posted at the Poona Military Station took a liking for the sport and started calling it ‘Poona’. Then they took the sport with them to the United Kingdom, which garnered attention from the Duke of Beaufort.

He further introduced the sport to guests during a party at his estate, the Badminton House. And that’s how the sport derived its name, with the Duke of Beaufort calling it ‘the badminton game’ after his estate. 

Goose Feathers Used for Shuttlecock

If you have been playing or watching the sport, then you know that players use the shuttle made of feathers. And they are not artificial feathers but extracted from a real goose.

Yes, the manufacturers use the feathers obtained from the left wing of a goose. A total of 16 feathers are needed to manufacture a shuttlecock.

Olympic Debut

The All England Open was the first major badminton tournament, as it started in 1899 – three years after the first-ever Olympics took place in 1896. But it took more than nine decades for badminton to make its debut at the Olympics.

Badminton made its first appearance at the 1992 Olympic Games held in Barcelona. Now the badminton matches played at the Olympics hold a lot of prestige.

Longest Rally

What’s more intriguing than watching the shuttle fly from one end to another? A continuous back and forth of the shuttle without dropping it on the court is known as a rally.

It’s quite a challenge for players not to make a false shot and keep the rally going. But during a women’s doubles match in 2023, a rally went on for 211 shots!

That’s the longest rally recorded in badminton, with Malaysia’s Thinaah Muralitharan-Pearly Tan and Japan’s Rena Miyaura-Ayako Sakuramoto scripting the history.

Both pairs kept attacking and defending, with the rally lasting for more than three minutes.

Shortest Badminton Match

The longest rally lasted for three minutes, but another badminton match was over within six minutes. Unbelievable, right?

In the 1996 Uber Cup, the women’s singles match between South Korea’s Ra Kyung-min and England’s Julia Mann ended in six minutes. The South Korean shuttler defeated Mann in straight sets by 11-2, 11-1.

Longest Badminton Match

On the other hand, a women’s doubles badminton match lasted for 161 minutes. It was the semi-final played at the 2016 Badminton Asian Championships.

The Japanese pair of Kurumi Yonao and Naoko Fukuman were up against the Indonesian duo of Greysia Polii and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari. It was a fiercely contested game, which lasted for two hours and 41 minutes, or 161 minutes, with the scoreline – 13-21, 21-19, 24-24 –  going in the Japanese pair’s favour.

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From swift smashes to incredible rallies, these champions have etched their names in history by winning some of the most prestigious open titles in the sport. 

In this article, we’ll look at the top five players/pairs who have won the most open titles in badminton.

5.  Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva | Bulgaria

The Bulgarian women’s doubles pair of Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva are fifth on this list. Interestingly, both are sisters, bringing their synergies on the badminton court.

The Stoeva sisters have been going on the badminton circuit since 2011. They have been a formidable duo in the BWF International Series, having won 34 titles in various tournaments. 

In addition to that, the Stoeva sisters have bagged six titles in Super 100 events, three in Grand Prix events, three in European Championships, and two in European Games, taking their tally to 47.

4.  Ge Fei and Gu Jun | China

Another women’s doubles pair makes their presence, this time from China. Ge Fei and Gu Jun reigned supreme in the women’s doubles category from the mid-1990s to 2000.

This Chinese duo is the most successful in the doubles discipline, as they won 47 open tournaments. Fei and Jun won the World Grand Prix Finals six times, while the All England Open, Malaysia Open, and China Open four times each.

The pair also clinched the Olympic gold medal in back-to-back games in 1996 and 2000.

3.  Susi Susanti | Indonesia

After a couple of doubles pairs, we now have Susi Susanti occupying the third spot on the list. She is among the best women’s singles players in badminton.

The Indonesian shuttler was a dominant player during her time, clinching major trophies several times. Interestingly, Susanti was the first-ever women’s player and fourth-youngest to win a gold medal in the Olympics, as the sport made its debut at the games in 1992.

In addition to that, she won the World Grand Prix Finals six times, followed by the Indonesia Open (6), All England Open (4), and Malaysia Open (4). In all, Susanti claimed 48 open titles in her career.

2.  Lin Dan | China

Lin Dan comes second on the list as he won 66 open tournaments. In a career that spanned two decades, the Chinese men’s shuttler made waves at a young age. 

By the time he was 28, Dan had achieved the feat of completing the Super Grand Slam in badminton. Not many players have done so in the history of the sport, which makes it even more special.

Dan claimed almost all major badminton titles, including the World Championships (5), All England Open (6), and China Open (5). That is enough to make him the Super Dan.

1.  Lee Chong Wei | Malaysia

Lee Chong Wei claims the No. 1 spot on this list with his 69 open title wins. The Malaysian shuttler was a consistent force in the badminton circuit for most of his career.

In his 19-year career, Lee inscribed his name on many notable tournaments. He won the Malaysia Open a record 12 times, which is the most times a player has won the tournament.

Apart from that, he triumphed at the Indonesia Open (6), Japan Open (6), and All England Open (4), which are some of the top-level events. As Lee was bagging one title after another, he went on to sit at the top of the rankings for 349 weeks, which makes him one of the finest shuttlers.

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But there are a few people who keep even closer watch at the shuttlecock or birdie. And they are not any ordinary individuals.

So who are they? Well, they are the line judges tasked with a specific job.

This article will cover all details about a line judge, including their role and how they make calls.

Line Judges and their Responsibilities in Badminton

Many sports have line judges, though their role differs a lot from those of badminton line judges. You see, line judges in badminton have one important task: keeping a watch on the shuttle.

What matters for them is where the shuttle lands on the court, irrespective of how the player executes the shot except for the serve. The line judges on the sidelines will signal if the shuttle has landed inside or outside the playing area.

Now there are some line judges who keep tabs on the services executed by shuttlers. They make sure that the serve is legal and lands in the receivers area.

That’s the main role of a line judge in a badminton match, and it’s quite a crucial one, as their call can decide the fate of a match. So one needs a high level of concentration to succeed as a line judge in badminton.

How many line judges are present on the badminton court?

As many as 10 line judges are present on the badminton court in matches played at major tournaments. The number of line judges may vary in lower-level tournaments.

Also Read | How Many Officials Are Present During a Badminton Match?

Where are the line judges positioned on the court?

Of the 10, six line judges are stationed at both ends of the court – three on each side. And the remaining four occupy the spots opposite the chair umpire.

The two line judges sitting close to the service umpire near the net have the responsibility of checking the legality of the serve, while other judges monitor if the birdie lands in or out.

All of them sit about 2.5 to 3.5 meters away from the court, and there should be no obstruction around them. This ensures that the line judges have a clear view of the court.

How do line judges make calls?

Now a line judge’s responsibility doesn’t end with monitoring the shuttle. They also need to make calls based on where the shuttle lands.

There are certain signals that they make once the shuttle comes into contact with the surface. Suppose a shuttle lands inside the playing area, then the respective line judge will point their right hand towards the line while looking at the chair umpire.

On the other hand, if the shuttle frays outside the legal area, then they will extend their both arms horizontally and call ‘Out’ while looking at the umpire. The call should be loud so the umpire, players, and spectators can hear it clearly.

Now there will be situations when the line judges may not have a clear view of the shuttle. So in that case, the judges cover their eyes with both hands, signalling that they couldn’t watch the shuttle.

If this happens, then the chair umpire will make the final call with the help of a replay system if it’s available.

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And badminton is no different, with many legendary Chinese shuttlers leaving their mark on the court. The likes of Lin Dan and Chen Long spearhead some of the best men’s shuttlers from the Asian country.

So here are the five greatest men’s Chinese badminton players of all time.

Lin Dan

Lin Dan is not just a Chinese great but a global superstar in badminton. And rightfully so, Peter Gade called him ‘Super Dan’.

If you are a die-hard badminton fan, then you must have seen him play the sport. Dan’s fitness, adaptability, and always-winning mindset set him apart from his peers.

The singles player is the only one to complete the Super Slam in badminton. Dan won almost all major tournaments, including the World Championships, Thomas Cup, Sudirman Cup, All England Open – you name it and he’s won them all.

Dan also clinched the Olympic gold medal twice in 2008 and 2012 to become the first men’s shuttler to retain his title in consecutive games. He bowed out with 670 match wins and 66 title wins in his 20 years of career.

Cai Yun

After the greatest men’s shuttler, we have the finest Chinese doubles player in Cai Yun. He formed a solid partnership with Fu Haifeng in the men’s doubles category.

Cai had quick reflexes while playing in the front court. In association with Fu, he won two Olympic medals, starting with a silver in 2008 and bagging a gold in 2012.

Cai fought many fierce matches along with Fu, claiming four titles in the World Championships, two each in the Asian Games and All England Open.

Fu Haifeng

Cai’s doubles partner Fu Haifeng was an equally fine badminton player. If Cai had the quickness, Fu possessed powerful smashes.

He guarded the back court while hitting some of the fastest smashes clocked in the sport. The pair of Cai and Fu was formidable as they used attacking tactics, not giving enough chances to their opponents.

The duo also won the Thomas Cup title five times, the Sudirman Cup six times, and the World Cup once. After Fu parted ways with Cai, he went on to add another Olympic gold with Zhang Nan in the 2016 games.

Chen Long

Known as ‘The Great Wall of China’, Chen Long lived up to the tag given by his fans. He is one of the greatest Chinese shuttlers.

Chen had a solid defence while boasting great stamina and command over the rallies. He was drawn to the sport at a young age and started taking strides by the age of 17.

Chen started winning major competitions in 2009 and reached his peak between 2014 and 2016, when he claimed the top spot in the badminton rankings. He won three Olympic medals, four Sudirman Cup titles, three Thomas Cup titles, and two World Championships trophies.

Zhang Nan 

Like Cai and Fu, Zhang Nan is also the best doubles badminton player from China. And he plied his trade equally well in men’s and mixed doubles.

Zhang forged successful partnerships with Fu and Liu Cheng in men’s doubles, while in the mixed category, he dominated with Zhao Yunlei and Li Yinhui. His adaptability among the two disciplines alone reflects his great command over the sport.

Zhang’s association with Yunlei was more remarkable, as the mixed pair triumphed in major badminton events. They won two Olympic medals in 2012 and 2016, while Zhang clinched one more with Fu in men’s doubles in 2016.

Zhang claimed the World Championships gold four times, the Sudirman Cup title three times, and the Thomas Cup title twice.

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Many renowned women’s shuttlers have made their mark in the championships, including those from India. But it took more than three decades for Indian women’s badminton players to win a medal in the tournament.

Since then, the picture has changed drastically though, with two of the finest Indian women’s shuttlers having consistent runs and winning medals in the BWF World Championships.

So here are the Indian women’s badminton players to win medals in the BWF World Championships.

1. PV Sindhu

Medals: 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze

PV Sindhu is the most successful Indian badminton player not just in the women’s singles discipline but across all categories in the World Championships. The Hyderabad shuttler has won five medals in the top-tier badminton event.

Her first medal came in the 2013 edition as she reached the semis, though she lost against Ratchanok Inthanon by 10-21, 13-21. Sindhu bagged the bronze, becoming the first Indian women’s singles shuttler to win a medal in the BWF World Championships.

In the next edition, she won another bronze, going down against Carolina Marin in the semi-final by 17-21, 15-21. In 2015, Sindhu bowed out of the quarter-finals, but she bounced back in 2017 to change the colour of her medal to silver.

Sindhu reached the final and gave a tough fight against Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara. She lost the first set by 19-21, then returned back with 22-20, only to lose the last set by 20-22.

In the 2018 championships as well, the tall shuttler stormed into the finals but lost against her fierce rival Marin by 19-21, 10-21. After missing out on the gold twice, Sindhu came determined in the 2019 event.

And as they say, the third time’s a charm, she went on to lift the title by beating Okuhara in two straight sets by 21-7. 21-7. With that, Sindhu became the first-ever Indian player to win a gold medal in the BWF World Championships.

Also Read | List: Indian Badminton Players to Win Olympic Medals

2. Saina Nehwal

Medals: 1 Silver, 1 Bronze

Saina Nehwal is the other Indian women’s singles player to win medals in the BWF World Championships. She clinched two medals in the annual event.

When Sindhu exited the quarter-finals in the 2015 edition, all eyes were on Nehwal, who went on to play in the final. She was up against Spain’s Carolina Marin, giving her some fight before losing by 16-21, 19-21.

Nehwal settled on the silver medal, making her the first Indian women’s shuttler to feature in the BWF World Championships final. In the next edition held in 2017, Nehwal almost looked certain of another final.

The Haryana shuttler squared off against Japanese Okuhara in the semi-final and opened the match by winning the first set by 21-12. But then she lost the next two sets by 17-21, 10-21 to end up with a bronze medal.

3. Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa

Medal: 1 Bronze

Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa became India’s first-ever pair to win a BWF World Championships medal. The women’s doubles pair made their way from the first three preliminary rounds to the quarter-finals.

They defeated the seeded Indonesian pair of Vita Marissa and Nadya Melati in the quarter-final to enter the semi-final. But Gutta and Ponnappa couldn’t sustain the challenge from the Chinese duo of Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei, losing the match by 14-21, 16-21.

Eventually, Gutta and Ponnappa had to settle on a bronze medal, though it was a historic moment in Indian badminton history. The pair was just the second to win a medal in the championships after Prakash Padukone (1983).

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