Badminton: Singles players who have won both Olympics and World Championships

The Badminton World Championships and Olympic Games are among the most prestigious tournaments in the world of badminton. Let’s have a look at Singles players who have won both Olympics and World Championships.

World Championships

The world championships are a tournament sanctioned by the BWF. It offers the most ranking points. Podium Finishes are awarded with medals. However, cash prizes are not awarded. The tournament started off as in 1977, being held once in every three years until 1983. From 1985, the tournament was held biennially until 2005. From 2006, the event is being held annually. However it is not conducted in the year the summer Olympics is being held.

Olympic Games

Badminton debuted in the Summer Olympic Games in 1992, Barcelona. Men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, and women’s doubles were held in the first edition. In 1988 Seoul Olympics, badminton featured as an exhibition sport. Since Atlanta Games, 1996, mixed doubles category was also added.

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Players who have won both Olympics and World Championships

Women’s Singles

Susi Susanti

the Indonesian great won the Olympics in 1992 and the world championships in 1993. She was one of the most dominant players in her time. Susi Susanti was Indonesia’s first Olympic gold medallist.

Zhang Ning

Zhang Ning was known for consistency of shots, deception and her control on the pace of rallies. She is the only women’s singles player to have won the Olympic gold consecutively in 2004 and 2008. Zhang clinched the World Championship title in 2003 beating compatriot Gong Ruina.

Carolina Marin

The Spaniard won the Olympic gold in Rio 2016, beating the lanky Indian PV Sindhu in a spectacular three game final. Marin is a three time world champion clinching the titles in 2014, 2015 and 2018. She has won a medal in almost every major tournament in the international circuit and is regarded as one of the greatest players.

Men’s Singles

Taufik Hidayat

The king of backhand is the Olympic Champion of the 2004, Athens edition. In 2005, Anaheim, he won the world championships. He has participated in the Olympic Games four times (2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012). Taufik Hidayat is a legendary player who has recorded the fastest backhand smashes. His backhand strokes were unusually powerful. He was an attacking player with flawless footwork and deceiving net play.

Lin Dan

The Chinese is regarded as the greatest player of all times. He is a five time world champion (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013) and two time Olympic champion (2008 and 2012). Nicknamed as super Dan he has won almost all the major titles in the circuit. In his initial playing years he had a very attacking game. Later on he also imbibed defensive play. Dan is one of the most versatile players in the world. He has the ability to change his game tactics based on the situation and opponent.

Chen Long

He is a two time world champion (2014 and 2015) and Olympic gold medalist at Rio in 2016. He has an efficient footwork, solid defence and is rather a very patient player. He plays long rallies and capitalizes on opponent’s mistakes. However he has great attaching skills too.

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