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2019 was truly a memorable year for badminton. It had some of the most exciting matches, with world-class players competing to be at the top of the leaderboard. Legendary names like Kento Momota and Chen Yu Fei made headlines for their impressive badminton performances. But which countries indeed dominated the sport in 2019?
We looked at the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) standings and determined those who put up a fantastic show globally.
If you want to find out which countries were the best at badminton in other years, check out our Top Badminton Countries page
End of 2019: The Top 10 Countries in Badminton
The BWF has over 198 member countries categorized into five continental confederations: Africa / Asia / Europe / Oceania / Pan America. In 2019, the following countries had the most number of participants in the BWF World Rankings across five categories:
| Rank | Country | Number of Medals Won |
| 1 | China | 10 |
| 2 | Japan | 10 |
| 3 | Indonesia | 8 |
| 4 | Korea | 5 |
| 5 | Malaysia | 4 |
| 6 | Chinese Taipei | 3 |
| 7 | Thailand | 3 |
| 8 | Denmark | 2 |
| 9 | Hong Kong | 2 |
| 10 | India | 1 |
China and Japan led the way with ten participants each, ranking high in all five categories. Indonesia followed closely with eight, having two participants in men’s singles alone and three in men’s and mixed doubles. Korea also ranked high with five participants, specializing in women’s doubles. Malaysia had four players in the rankings, ranging from men’s doubles to mixed doubles.
Canada and Spain also appeared on the lists, with one player each in women’s singles. Canada’s Michelle Li ranked eighth, and Spain’s Carolina Marin ranked tenth. Overall, 2019 was an impressive year for badminton countries.
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The Year Before: A Comparison
Going back to the BWF standings of 2018, we find many of these countries also topped the list. Others entered the ranks in 2019 and made a big splash. Let’s see which countries are still reigning and which ones have been bumped off:
| Rank | Country | Number of Medals Won |
| 1 | Japan | 12 |
| 2 | China | 11 |
| 3 | Indonesia | 7 |
| 4 | Chinese Taipei | 3 |
| 5 | Denmark | 3 |
| 6 | India | 3 |
| 7 | Thailand | 3 |
| 8 | Korea | 2 |
| 9 | Hong Kong | 1 |
| 10 | Spain | 1 |
Japan and China still had the highest number of participants in the rankings, with the former dropping by two and the latter increasing by one the following year. Indonesia, Chinese Taipei, Denmark, India, and Thailand also maintained their presence, with Malaysia bumping off Spain from the tenth spot in the rankings.
Surprisingly, the U.S.A., Bulgaria, and England had no participants in the BWF rankings of 2019, though they were on the list a year before. U.S.A.’s Beiwen Zhang ranked tenth in women’s singles, while siblings Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva brought Bulgaria to the ninth spot in women’s doubles. At the same time, married couple Chris Adcock and Gabrielle Adcock from England also ranked ninth in mixed doubles. The three countries lost their places in 2019.
Check out these tables for every category to determine which countries made it to the top and how they fared compared to 2018:
Men’s Singles
Women’s Singles
Men’s Doubles
Rank | 2018 | 2019 |
| 1 | Indonesia Marcus Fernaldi GIDEON and Kevin Sanjaya SUKAMULJO | Indonesia Marcus Fernaldi GIDEON and Kevin Sanjaya SUKAMULJO |
| 2 | China LI Jun Hui and LIU Yu Chen | Indonesia Hendra SETIAWAN and Mohammad AHSAN |
| 3 | Japan Takeshi KAMURA and Keigo SONODA | Japan Takeshi KAMURA and Keigo SONODA |
| 4 | Chinese Taipei CHEN Hung Ling and WANG Chi-Lin | China LI Jun Hui and LIU Yu Chen |
| 5 | Japan Hiroyuki ENDO and Yuta WATANABE | Indonesia Fajar ALFIAN and Muhammad Rian ARDIANTO |
| 6 | Denmark Kim ASTRUP and Anders Skaarup RASMUSSEN | Japan Hiroyuki ENDO and Yuta WATANABE |
| 7 | Indonesia Fajar ALFIAN and Muhammad Rian ARDIANTO | Chinese Taipei CHEN Hung Ling and WANG Chi-Lin |
| 8 | China HAN Cheng Kai and ZHOU Hao Dong | Malaysia Aaron CHIA and SOH Wooi Yik |
| 9 | Indonesia Hendra SETIAWAN and Mohammad AHSAN | Korea CHOI Sol Gyu and SEO Seung Jae |
| 10 | China LIU Cheng and ZHANG Nan | Malaysia GOH V Shem and TAN Wee Kiong |
Women’s Doubles
Rank | 2018 | 2019 |
| 1 | Japan Yuki FUKUSHIMA and Sayaka HIROTA | China CHEN Qing Chen and JIA Yi Fan |
| 2 | Japan Misaki MATSUTOMO and Ayaka TAKAHASHI | Japan Yuki FUKUSHIMA and Sayaka HIROTA |
| 3 | Japan Mayu MATSUMOTO and Wakana NAGAHARA | Japan Mayu MATSUMOTO and Wakana NAGAHARA |
| 4 | Indonesia Greysia POLII and Apriyani RAHAYU | Japan Misaki MATSUTOMO and Ayaka TAKAHASHI |
| 5 | China CHEN Qing Chen and JIA Yi Fan | Korea KIM So Yeong and KONG Hee Yong |
| 6 | Korea LEE So Hee and SHIN Seung Chan | Korea LEE So Hee and SHIN Seung Chan |
| 7 | Japan Shiho TANAKA and Koharu YONEMOTO | China DU Yue and LI Yin Hui |
| 8 | Thailand Jongkolphan KITITHARAKUL and Rawinda PRAJONGJAI | Indonesia Greysia POLII and Apriyani RAHAYU |
| 9 | Bulgaria Gabriela STOEVA and Stefani STOEVA | Thailand Jongkolphan KITITHARAKUL and Rawinda PRAJONGJAI |
| 10 | Japan Ayako SAKURAMOTO and Yukiko TAKAHATA | China LI Wen Mei and ZHENG Yu |
Mixed Doubles
Rank | 2018 | 2019 |
| 1 | China ZHENG Si Wei and HUANG Ya Qiong | China ZHENG Si Wei and HUANG Ya Qiong |
| 2 | China WANG Yi Lyu and HUANG Dong Ping | China WANG Yi Lyu and HUANG Dong Ping |
| 3 | Japan Yuta WATANABE and Arisa HIGASHINO | Japan Yuta WATANABE and Arisa HIGASHINO |
| 4 | Indonesia Tontowi AHMAD and Liliyana NATSIR | Thailand Dechapol PUAVARANUKROH and Sapsiree TAERATTANACHAI |
| 5 | Thailand Dechapol PUAVARANUKROH and Sapsiree TAERATTANACHAI | Indonesia Praveen JORDAN and Melati Daeva OKTAVIANTI |
| 6 | Malaysia CHAN Peng Soon and GOH Liu Ying | Malaysia CHAN Peng Soon and GOH Liu Ying |
| 7 | Hong Kong China TANG Chun Man and TSE Ying Suet | Korea SEO Seung Jae and CHAE Yu Jung |
| 8 | Denmark Mathias CHRISTIANSEN and Christinna PEDERSEN | Malaysia GOH Soon Huat and LAI Shevon Jemie |
| 9 | England Chris ADCOCK and Gabrielle ADCOCK | Indonesia Hafiz FAIZAL and Gloria Emanuelle WIDJAJA |
| 10 | China ZHANG Nan and LI Yin Hui | Hong Kong China TANG Chun Man and TSE Ying Suet |
HSBC BWF World Tour Finals
The HSBC BWF World Tour Finals is the concluding tournament of the international badminton season, hosted by the Badminton World Federation. In 2019, the same countries and names came to the top, with China’s Chen Yu Fei and Japan’s Kento Momota taking the title for women’s and men’s singles, respectively.
Men’s Singles
Women’s Singles
Men’s Doubles
Rank | 2019 |
| 1 | Indonesia Marcus Fernaldi GIDEON and Kevin Sanjaya SUKAMULJO |
| 2 | Indonesia Hendra SETIAWAN and Mohammad AHSAN |
| 3 | Japan Takeshi KAMURA and Keigo SONODA |
| 4 | Chinese Taipei CHEN Hung Ling and WANG Chi-Lin |
| 5 | China LI Jun Hui and LIU Yu Chen |
| 6 | Indonesia Fajar ALFIAN and Muhammad Rian ARDIANTO |
| 7 | Japan Hiroyuki ENDO and Yuta WATANABE |
| 8 | Chinese Taipei LU Ching Yao and YANG Po Han |
| 9 | Malaysia Aaron CHIA and SOH Wooi Yik |
| 10 | Malaysia GOH V Shem and TAN Wee Kiong |
Women’s Doubles
Rank | 2019 |
| 1 | Japan Yuki FUKUSHIMA and Sayaka HIROTA |
| 2 | Japan Misaki MATSUTOMO and Ayaka TAKAHASHI |
| 3 | Korea KIM So Yeong and KONG Hee Yong |
| 4 | Japan Misaki MATSUTOMO and Ayaka TAKAHASHI |
| 5 | China CHEN Qing Chen and JIA Yi Fan |
| 6 | Indonesia Greysia POLII and Apriyani RAHAYU |
| 7 | Indonesia Greysia POLII and Apriyani RAHAYU |
| 8 | Korea LEE So Hee and SHIN Seung Chan |
| 9 | Thailand Jongkolphan KITITHARAKUL and Rawinda PRAJONGJAI |
| 10 | China LIU Xuan Xuan and XIA Yu Ting |
Mixed Doubles
Rank | 2019 |
| 1 | Thailand Dechapol PUAVARANUKROH and Sapsiree TAERATTANACHAI |
| 2 | China ZHENG Si Wei and HUANG Ya Qiong |
| 3 | Indonesia Praveen JORDAN and Melati Daeva OKTAVIANTI |
| 4 | China WANG Yi Lyu and HUANG Dong Ping |
| 5 | Malaysia CHAN Peng Soon and GOH Liu Ying |
| 6 | Japan Yuta WATANABE and Arisa HIGASHINO |
| 7 | Indonesia Hafiz FAIZAL and Gloria Emanuelle WIDJAJA |
| 8 | Korea SEO Seung Jae and CHAE Yu Jung |
| 9 | Malaysia GOH Soon Huat and LAI Shevon Jemie |
| 10 | Indonesia Rinov RIVALDY and Pitha Haningtyas MENTARI |
2019’s Best of the Best
Out of over 170 member nations, the ten best badminton countries in 2019 undeniably make us wonder how they reached the top. What do they do that other countries don’t? How did they rise to the challenge and impact the world stage? The top ten badminton countries have produced some of the world’s most talented badminton players, and here’s a sneak peek into their stories:
China
China quickly rose to become one of the most powerful nations in the sport, thanks to its players’ hard work and dedication. China has won numerous titles, dominating the sport, especially in the mixed doubles category.
Japan
No other country is as well-rounded as Japan in badminton. With steady improvement over the years, they have become a powerhouse in men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
Indonesia
Indonesia is home to some of the world’s best badminton players, with many competing and winning at the highest levels. Indonesia’s strength lies in men’s singles and doubles, with more than one player in the top rankings.
Korea
If Indonesia needs to work harder in the women’s singles and doubles section, Korea can proudly say they have done just that. The Asian country had two participants in the 2019 top women’s doubles category rankings.
Malaysia
Another powerhouse of men’s singles and doubles, Malaysia has seen a rise in the rankings year after year. The country has shown inconsistency in some categories but has been able to remain in the top ten.
Chinese Taipei
Never underestimate Chinese Taipei’s badminton players, who have consistently been in the top rankings for years. The country particularly leads in men’s and women’s singles and men’s doubles, with players Chou Tien Chen, Tai Tzu Ying, Lee Yang, and Wang Chi-Lin.
Thailand
Thailand has consistently been in badminton’s top rankings, particularly in women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. The country displays extreme strength in the women’s divisions, with Ratchanok Intanon, Jongkolphan Kititharakul, and Rawinda Prajongjai among the top players.
Denmark
Denmark is a small country that has made its mark in the badminton world. The country has especially excelled in men’s singles, with players like Viktor Axelsen and Anders Antonsen winning numerous titles yearly.
Hong Kong China
Hong Kong China has become among the strongest contenders in men’s singles and mixed doubles. Players NG Ka Long Angus, Tang Chun Man, and Tse Ying Suet are all in the top rankings.
India
India also made an impact throughout the BWF rankings in 2019, with moderate strength in women’s singles. Pusarla V. Sindhu is one of the country’s top athletes, joining the top ten in the world rankings.
2019 Top Badminton Players in Action
Every country in every list of top rankings has players who help shape the badminton world. New players emerge yearly, giving the court a whole new set of talent. Before the top players in 2019, we had world champions Lin Dan, Chen Jin, Xie Xingfang, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng, Gao Ling and Huang Sui, Kim Dong-moon and Ra Kyung-min, and many more.
2019 saw badminton players from China, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, and other top countries as they took the court and fought for the world rankings. Here are the players who ruled the five categories of badminton in that year:
Men’s Singles: Kento Momota
Japan’s Kento Momota ranked first in the 2019 BWF world rankings for men’s singles, earning 111918 points by the end of the year. He has always been known for his consistent performance, winning titles in almost all the tournaments he participated in.
Women’s Singles: Chen Yu Fei
Chen Yu Fei from China was the top player in the women’s singles category, winning 96765 points. She is a world-class athlete, and her impressive skills made her an inspirational figure for millions of badminton fans.
Men’s Doubles: Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo
As expected, the Indonesian duo of Marcus and Kevin managed to remain in first place for men’s doubles. With a total of 105803 points, the two have become one of the country’s best doubles pairs in history.
Women’s Doubles: Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan
China’s Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan made an impressive run in the women’s doubles rankings and secured the top spot for 2019. They have maintained their position as world champions with a total of 100110 points, and their impressive skill set has become a benchmark for future generations of badminton players.
Mixed Doubles: Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong
Two more talented doubles players from China, Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong ended 2019 as the top mixed doubles pair in the world. With a total of 111802 points, the duo has become a staple in the badminton world and will likely remain at the top for years to come.
A Badminton Year on Fire
The world of badminton presents us with a rich and competitive set of players every year, with tournaments starting and ending several times a year. 2019 was an exciting year for the sport, with countries from all over the world competing to be among the top. With the players mentioned above, and many others from different countries, it is clear that badminton is a thriving sport that will continue to amaze us.
China, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Denmark, Hong Kong China, and India are only some of the many countries that have made their mark in the badminton world, and they made 2019 their year to shine. Compared to 2018, almost all these countries had players who reached the top, proving that badminton is more than just a popular sport but also a symbol of pride for athletes and fans alike.
Top players Kento Momota, Chen Yu Fei,Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo, Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan, and Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong also made this year fiery with their remarkable skill sets and consistent performances. Some players may have appeared and disappeared from the rankings, but these six players stayed as an example of success and excellence.
We can only look forward to more exciting tournaments, inspiring games, and incredible players in the following years. 2019 was a fantastic year for badminton, but it was only the beginning.
Visit our Top Badminton Countries page to know more about the rankings on other years.
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