Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. See our Privacy Policy for more information.
Welcome to BadmintonBites and thanks for reading this fun badminton post! If you’d like to read more funny and satirical badminton content, visit this page for a full list (I’ll be updating it as more content comes in!). Enjoy!
2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019 were eventful years in badminton. During these years, we saw the top badminton countries claim positions and lose them. If you’ve ever wondered how the rankings looked before 2019, I’m here to fill you in on the best badminton countries of 2018!
As of December 27, 2018, Japan dominated the world rankings as the most well-represented badminton country across all disciplines. Japan was particularly dominant in women’s doubles, with Japanese teams occupying half of the top ten spots. Not far behind was China, with excellent representation in the men’s and mixed doubles disciplines. Ranking third was Indonesia with three pairs in the men’s doubles division. The country also had one team in the mixed doubles rankings, Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir, and players in the men’s and women’s singles disciplines.
Join our mailing list on our About Page for exclusives, offers, and the latest news from BadmintonBites! By joining, you’ll get 25% off anything from our shop!
For a more detailed look at the best badminton countries of 2018 and their representation across all disciplines, check out my table below!
| Rank | Badminton Country | MS | WS | MD | WD | XD | Total Spots Claimed in the 2018 Rankings |
| 1 | Japan | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 12 |
| 2 | China | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
| 3 | Indonesia | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | Chinese Taipei | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Thailand | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | Denmark | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | India | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | South Korea | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Spain | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Malaysia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | United States | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Bulgaria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Hong Kong | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Comparisons From the 2017 Rankings
In 2018, Japan leapfrogged China to climb atop the rankings. Japan cemented itself as the most well-represented country across all disciplines, with heavy representation in women’s doubles.
Meanwhile, China slipped to second place with the GOAT’s departure from the rankings. The exits of Yu Xiao Han and Huang Ya Qiong from the rankings also dented China’s grip on the women’s doubles division.
Indonesia overtook South Korea to become the third-ranked badminton country of 2018. In 2018, Indonesian talent appeared in the men’s singles, men’s doubles, and women’s doubles disciplines. By contrast, the former number-three badminton country South Korea lost its spot after losing a mixed doubles team and Sung Jihyun from the women’s singles division.
With the loss of its teams and one player in the rankings, South Korea descended to number five in 2018.
Despite having lesser players and teams in the rankings in 2018, Chinese Taipei, Denmark, and India held on to their number four spots. Joining the three badminton nations is Thailand, with Ratchanok Intanon, Jongkolphan Kititharakul, Rawinda Prajongjai, Dechapol Puavaranukroh, and Sapsiree Taerattanachai staying in the World Rankings.
In last place were Malaysia, England, Hong Kong, and Spain with one representative each. Joining the list of the 2018 top badminton countries was the United States, with Beiwen Zhang breaking into the women’s singles rankings.
2018’s Best Players and Teams From Different Countries
With the top 10 badminton nations of 2018 ranked, you may be wondering who are the representatives of these countries. Below, I give you the best players and teams of 2018 and their medal counts for the year!
For this article, we’re only keeping tabs on Badminton World Federation (BWF) Grade One and Two tournaments. In other words, the medal counts I’ll be including in the table are from the Olympics, World Championships, and BWF World Tour.
Men’s Singles
In 2018, Japan’s Kento Momota reigned atop the men’s singles world rankings with seven World Tour championships.
| Rank | Player | Country | Gold Medals | Silver Medals | Bronze Medals |
| 1 | Kento Momota | Japan | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | Shi Yu Qi | China | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Chou Tien Chen | Chinese Taipei | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 4 | Chen Long | China | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Son Wan Ho | South Korea | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Viktor Axelsen | Denmark | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Anthony Sinisuka Ginting | Indonesia | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Kidambi Srikanth | India | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Tommy Sugiarto | Indonesia | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | Kenta Nishimoto | Japan | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Women’s Singles
2018 saw the Taiwanese sensation Tai Tzu Ying dominating the World Rankings in women’s singles. With six World Tour titles and an Asian Games crown, she tops the list as the best women’s singles player of 2018.
| Rank | Player | Country | Gold Medals | Silver Medals | Bronze Medals |
| 1 | Tai Tzu Ying | Chinese Taipei | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | Nozomi Okuhara | Japan | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | P.V. Sindhu | India | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Chen Yu Fei | China | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | Akane Yamaguchi | Japan | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Carolina Marin | Spain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | He Bing Jiao | China | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | Ratchanok Intanon | Thailand | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | Saina Nehwal | India | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | Beiwen Zhang | United States | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Men’s Doubles
In 2018, Indonesia’s Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo retained their World Number One position.
| Rank | Players | Country | Gold Medals | Silver Medals | Bronze Medals |
| 1 | Marcus Fernaldi Gideon Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo | Indonesia | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Li Jun Hui Liu Yu Chen | China | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Takeshi Kamura Keigo Sonoda | Japan | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Chen Hung Ling Wang Chi Lin | Chinese Taipei | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Kim Astrup Anders Skaarup Rasmussen | Denmark | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Hiroyuki Endo Yuta Watanabe | Japan | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 7 | Fajar Alfian Muhammad Rian Ardianto | Indonesia | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | Han Cheng Kai Zhou Hao Dong | China | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | Hendra Setiawan Mohammad Ahsan | Indonesia | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Liu Cheng Zhang Nan | China | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Women’s Doubles
Topping the 2018 women’s doubles rankings are Japan’s Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota. Two Japanese teams also occupy the second and third spots.
| Rank | Players | Country | Gold Medals | Silver Medals | Bronze Medals |
| 1 | Yuki Fukushima Sayaka Hirota | Japan | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | Misaki Matsumoto Ayaka Takahashi | Japan | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | Mayu Matsumoto Wakana Nagahara | Japan | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Greysia Polii Apriyana Rahayu | Indonesia | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Chen Qing Chen Jia Yi Fan | China | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | Lee So Hee Shin Seung Chan | South Korea | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 7 | Shiho Tanaka Koharu Yunemoto | Japan | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | Jongkolphan Kititharakul Rawinda Prajongjay | Thailand | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | Gabriela Stoeva Stefani Stoeva | Bulgaria | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | Ayako Sakuramoto Yukiko Takahata | Japan | 7 | 2 | 0 |
Mixed Doubles
The 2018 mixed doubles World Rankings has three Chinese teams. Atop the rankings was the duo of Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong with seven World Tour titles and a World Championship title. The duo also won the 2018 Asian Championships.
| Rank | Player | Country | Gold Medals | Silver Medals | Bronze Medals |
| 1 | Zheng Si Wei Huang Ya Qiong | China | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | Wang Yi Liu Huang Dong Ping | China | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| 3 | Yuta Watanabe Arisa Higashino | Japan | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Tontowi Ahmad Liliyana Natsir | Indonesia | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | Dechapol Puavaranukroh Sapsiree Taerattanachai | Thailand | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Chan Peng Soon Goh Liu Ying | Malaysia | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | Tang Chun Man Tse Ying Suet | Hong Kong | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Mathias Christiansen Christinna Pedersen | Denmark | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | Chris Adcock Gabrielle Adcock | England | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Zhang Nan Li Yin Hui | China | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Japan: Well-represented and Dominant in Women’s Doubles
Well-rounded in talent, Japan remained one of the most dominant badminton countries across all divisions. The country’s representation is robust in the women’s doubles discipline with five teams in the rankings.
Men’s Singles
- Kento Momota | Age: 24 | Rank: 1 | 1st: 7, 2nd: 3, 3rd/4th: 0 | Exhibits the perfect balance of endurance, control, speed, and defensive awareness.
- Kenta Nishimoto | Age: 24 | Rank: 10 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 | Broke into the top 10 in 2018 with his counter-attacking tactics and patient style of play.
Women’s Doubles
- Nozomi Okuhara | Age: 23 | Rank: 2 | 1st: 3, 2nd: 3, 3rd/4th: 0 | Uses her endurance and accuracy to engage opponents in long rallies.
- Akane Yamaguchi | Age: 21 | Rank: 5 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | Her impeccable endurance and defensive tactics make her a challenge for any opponent.
Men’s Doubles
- Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda | Ages: both 28 | Rank: 3 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | Exemplary teamwork and on-court coordination are qualities this team is famous for.
- Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe | Ages: 32 and 21 | Rank: 6 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 3, 3rd/4th: 0 | A synergistic combination of experience and youthful vigor made this duo an entertaining pair to watch in 2018.
Women’s Doubles
- Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota | Ages: 25 and 24 | Rank: 1 | 1st: 5, 2nd: 3, 3rd/4th: 0 | The duo’s counter-attacking style makes long rallies dangerous for any women’s doubles team.
- Misaki Matsumoto and Ayaka Takahashi | Ages: 26 and 28 | Rank: 2 | 1st: 5, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | With opposing individual styles, Matsumoto and Takahashi are an unpredictable pair to play against.
- Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara | Ages: 23 and 22 | Rank: 3 | 1st: 3, 2nd: 3, 3rd/4th: 0 | Amazing at using their endurance and speed to their advantage, especially against defense-heavy opponents.
- Shiho Tanaka and Koharu Yunemoto | Ages: 26 and 28 | Rank: 7 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | Boast an all-around playing style that’s both adaptable and unpredictable for opponents.
- Ayako Sakuramoto and Yukiko Takahata | Ages: 23 and 20 | Rank: 10 | 1st: 7, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 | Able to switch between the rear and front areas for full-court coverage.
Mixed Doubles
- Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino | Ages: 21 and 22 | Rank: 3 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 | Watanabe and Higashino display an uncanny composure that enables them to make calculated decisions on the court.
China: Down One Place for Being Down a Men’s Singles Player and One Mixed Doubles Pair
Despite the exits of Lin Dan, Lu Kai’s retirement, and Lu XIaohan’s exit from the women’s doubles rankings, China remains a force to be reckoned with in all badminton disciplines. Across all divisions, Chinese representation abounded, except in women’s doubles where the powerhouse nation had one pair.
Men’s Singles
- Shi Yu Qi | Age: 22 | Rank: 2 | 1st: 3, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 | Has a smash-heavy style coupled with tactical net play that catches opponents off guard.
- Chen Long | Age: 28 | Rank: 4 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | Made a name for himself with his unique defensive style of play.
Women Singles
- Chen Yu Fei | Age: 20 | Rank: 4 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 3, 3rd/4th: 0 | An impressive player to watch with her impressive saves and trick shots.
- He Bing Jiao | Age: 21 | Rank: 7 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | Has a similar style to Chen Yu Fei but brings a counterattacking style to most of her matches.
Men’s Doubles
- Li Jun Hui and Liu Yu Che | Ages: both 23| Rank: 2 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 | Both players capitalize on their reach to deliver blinding smashes and clears.
- Han Cheng Kai and Zhou Hao Dong | Ages: both 20 | Rank: 8 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | Both players shift effortlessly from the back to the front of their court, giving themselves the advantage in court coverage.
- Liu Cheng and Zhang Nan | Ages: 26 and 28 | Rank: 10 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 | The duo play a fast-paced style that mixes heavy smashes and tactical close-net play.
Women’s Doubles
- Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan | Ages: both 21 | Rank: 5 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 3, 3rd/4th: 0 | Despite slipping several places from their 2017 ranking, the pair continued to dominate teams with intelligent counterattacks and impressive defensive coverage.
Mixed Doubles
- Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong | Ages: 21 and 24 | Rank: 1 | 1st: 8, 2nd: 3, 3rd/4th: 0 | Si Wei’s adventurous and attacking style matches well with Ya Qiong’s defensive style of play.
- Wang Yi Lyu and Huang Dong Ping | Ages: 24 and 23 | Rank: 2 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 7, 3rd/4th: 0 | The duo’s well-rounded style gives opponents few mistakes on which to capitalize.
- Zhang Nan and Li Yin Hui | Ages: 28 and 21 | Rank: 10 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | The duo’s combination of aggressiveness and endurance enables them to come out on top after long rallies.
Indonesia: Up Several Spots With Its Dominance of the Men’s Doubles Rankings
Indonesia raised its stock in 2018 with Anthony Sinisuka Ginting and Tommy Sugiarto in the men’s singles rankings. However, Indonesia’s best representation was in the men’s doubles rankings with three teams.
Nonetheless, the country had yet to produce talent worthy of being in the women’s singles rankings.
Men’s Singles
- Anthony Sinisuka Ginting | Age: 22 | Rank: 7 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 | Besides his agility, Ginting displays an attacking style made more ferocious by his pace and athleticism.
- Tommy Sugarto | Age: 30 | Rank: 9 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 | Matches defense with an intelligent counterattacking style that catches opponents off guard.
Men’s Doubles
- Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo | Ages: 27 and 22| Rank: 1 | 1st: 8, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | They boast a fast-paced style matched by impenetrable court coverage.
- Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto | Ages: both 22 | Rank: 7 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | Endurance and tactical awareness make this pair dangerous during long rallies.
- Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan | Ages: 34 and 31| Rank: 9 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 | The seasoned duo capitalizes on their experience and powerful smashes to give younger and more athletic opponents a run for their money.
Women’s Doubles
- Greysia Polii and Apriyana Rahayu | Ages: 31 and 20 | Rank: 4 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | The pair plays a steady-paced game that turns most games into a battle of endurance — another quality the pair has in spades.
Mixed Doubles
- Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir | Ages: 31 and 33 | Rank: 4 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 | Ahmad and Natsir’s specialized roles make them formidable, with Ahmad supplying the backcourt power and Natsir bringing her front court net play.
Thailand: Up One Spot As Players Remained in the Rankings
Thailand’s players and teams continue to represent the Land of Smiles. Unfortunately, the country has the same players, indicating a limited talent pool, especially in men’s singles and doubles.
Women’s Singles
- Ratchanok Intanon | Age: 23 | Rank: 8 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | Boasts a unique attack-heavy style that many commentators have described as “balletic, graceful, and attractive.”
Women’s Doubles
- Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjay| Ages: both 25 | Rank: 8 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | The duo’s synergistic style makes the pair an exciting pair to watch.
Mixed Doubles
- Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai | Ages: both 25 | Rank: 5 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | The history-making pair employ a tactical style of play that mixes patient counterattacks and on-court coordination.
Denmark: Retained Its Number Four Position Despite Losing One Men’s Doubles Team
Denmark remained in fourth place with Viktor Axelsen still in the men’s rankings. While he slid down to sixth place, the team of Anders Skaarup Rasmussen and Kim Astrup broke into the men’s doubles rankings. Denmark also had new representatives in the mixed doubles rankings in Mathias Christiansen and Christinna Pedersen.
Men’s Singles
- Viktor Axelsen | Age: 24 | Rank: 6 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | Brings on the pressure with steep smashes and shots facilitated by his stature and reach.
Men’s Singles
- Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen | Ages: 26 and 29 | Rank: 5 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | The duo pushes the pace with rapid attacks mixed with retrieval skills.
Mixed Doubles
- Mathias Christiansen and Christinna Pedersen | Ages: 24 and 32 | Rank: 8 | 1st: 3, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | Specialize in an attacking style consisting of powerful smashes and backcourt clears.
Chinese Taipei: Still in Fourth Place Even After the Departure of One Men’s Doubles Team
Chinese Taipei remained represented in men’s and women’s singles discipline. The country also has representatives in the men’s doubles rankings in Chen Hung and Wang Chi Lin. The departure of Lee Jhe Huei and Lee Yang did little to dent the country’s place in the rankings.
Men’s Singles
- Chou Tien Chen | Age: 28 | Rank: 3 | 1st: 3, 2nd: 4, 3rd/4th: 0 | Taiwan’s Premier Badminton Player takes advantage of his endurance and capitalizes on his opponent’s lapses with sudden attacks.
Women’s Singles
- Tai Tzu Ying | Age: 24 | Rank: 1 | 1st: 6, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 | Her deceptive style of play moves opponents all over the court until she catches them off-guard.
Men’s Doubles
- Chen Hung Ling and Wang Chi Lin | Ages: 32 and 23 | Rank: 4 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 | The duo’s teamwork and complementary playing style make every match exciting to watch.
India: Remained in Fourth Place Despite Prannoy H.S. Exiting the Men’s Singles Rankings
India kept its foothold on the badminton rankings even after the departure of Prannoy H.S., P.V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal stayed in the women’s singles rankings. But, India remained unrepresented in all doubles disciplines.
Men’s Singles
- Kidambi Srikanth | Age: 25 | Rank: 8 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 | Has a uniquely aggressive style that leaves little room for opponents to recuperate in rallies.
Women’s Singles
- P.V. Sindhu | Age: 23 | Rank: 3 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 3, 3rd/4th: 0 | Keeps opponents guessing with her broad arsenal of strokes and shots.
- Saina Nehwal | Age: 28 | Rank: 9 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 3, 3rd/4th: 0 | Steep smashes and aggressive front-court play make Saina Nehwal a formidable adversary.
South Korea: Down to Fifth Place After Losing Players in the Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
South Korea slid from third place in 2017 to fifth place with Sung Jihyun’s exit from the rankings. Two teams also left the rankings in 2018, including the mixed doubles pair of Seo Sung Jae and Kim Ha Na.
South Korea’s strength has always been in doubles. So, if the country will have any chance of climbing again, more South Korean teams need to break into the World Rankings again.
Men’s Singles
- Son Wan Ho | Age: 30 | Rank: 5 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 | His reaction time and heavy defensive style enable the player to handle steep and powerful smashes.
Women’s Doubles
- Lee So Hee and Shin Seung Chan | Ages: both 24 | Rank: 6 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 4, 3rd/4th: 0 | Impeccable teamplay and specialized roles make Lee and Shin a formidable duo.
Spain: Still in the Rankings Despite Marin’s Descent to Sixth Place
Carolina Marin continued to represent Spain in the badminton world rankings. Unfortunately, as with previous years, she remains the sole Spaniard in the World Rankings. In 2018, she slid down two places to number six.
Women’s Singles
- Carolina Marin | Age: 25 | Rank: 6 | 1st: 3, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 | Specializes in precision shots made more unpredictable because of her left-handed playing style.
Malaysia: Still in the Rankings Despite Lee Chong Wei’s Retirement
Malaysia lost its main flag-bearer after the Malaysian legend announced his retirement due to nose cancer. Luckily, Chen Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying stepped up in 2018 to keep Malaysia in the rankings — albeit in mixed doubles.
Mixed Doubles
- Goh Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying | Ages: 30 and 29 | Rank: 6 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 | Have an attacking style of play made more dangerous by their footwork, pace, and structured technique.
Hong Kong: Down One Place Because of Ng Ka Long’s Exit From the Rankings
In 2018, Ng Ka Long dropped to 14th place. This was after a dismal string of results in mid-2018. However, Hong Kong’s inclusion in the rankings came courtesy of Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet.
Mixed Doubles
- Tan Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet | Ages: 23 and 27 | Rank: 7 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 | The duo baffles opponents with their attack-heavy left-handed playing style.
United States: A Newcomer to the Rankings
The United States finally had representation in 2018 when Beiwen Zhang broke into the Women’s Singles World Rankings. The 28-year-old strung together an impressive record, putting the United States on the map in badminton.
Time will tell if more American talent will break into the rankings.
Women’s Singles
- Beiwen Zhang | Age: 28 | Rank: 10 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 | Has a balanced playing style but displays a tendency for powerful smashes.
Bulgaria: In the Rankings Thanks to Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva
Another newcomer to the rankings is the Bulgarian team of Gabriela and Stefani Steova. The duo broke into the rankings early in December 2018 and retained their number nine position by the end of the year.
Women’s Doubles
- Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva | Ages: 24 and 23 | Rank: 9 | 1st: 5, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 | Can simultaneously occupy both halves of the court and effectively defend shots.
England: Stayed in the Rankings in 2018 Thanks to Chris and Gabrielle Adcock
Chris and Gabrielle Adcock remained the sole representatives of England in the rankings. If England is to improve its position, more players need to break into the rankings in every discipline.
As of December 2018, the most likely candidates for entering the mixed rankings were Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith. For men’s doubles, Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge are the most likely English team to join the top ten rankings.
Mixed Doubles
- Chris Adcock and Gabrielle Adcock | Ages: 29 and 28 | Rank: 9 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 | Their fast-paced and aggressive style makes them a threat to any mixed doubles opponent.
2018: A Scintillating Year for Badminton
No doubt, 2018 was an exciting and unpredictable year as we saw countries climb the rankings and others lose their spots. As more talents from the bottom half of the rankings bring their A-game, there’s no telling what the next years will bring.
One thing’s for sure:
Anything can happen in badminton.
And that’s something every badminton country needs to take stock of if they want to improve and maintain their spot in the rankings!
Subscribe on our About Us page, see you there!
Thank you for reading! Our most popular posts are our badminton equipment posts, make sure to check them out next.
Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our email list down below for a FREE downloadable PDF and a 25% COUPON CODE for our store.
BadmintonBites is all about honest and authentic badminton content. The goal of BadmintonBites is to create real value for the badminton community, which is often plagued with subpar or downright false content on the internet.
Badminton deserves so much more and we’re here to share our experience and expertise with you. You can read more about BadmintonBites and our purpose on our About Us page.
We would love to have you with us on our badminton journey and we hope to provide you with as much value as possible.
Here’s some guides and reviews on badminton products. We update this list whenever we add new equipment content – hope you enjoy!
