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2020 was an interesting season in badminton, notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down tournaments for most of the year. Nevertheless, the world’s top badminton nations were back at it again in 2021. So, who was the top badminton country of 2021?
In 2021, Japan held on to its top position and reigned supreme as the most well-represented country across different divisions. China and Indonesia tied for second place, with the latter slipping one position due to a lack of players in the women’s singles World Rankings. Meanwhile, Malaysia, South Korea, and Thailand shared the third spot with each badminton country fielding four talents in the World Rankings. In fourth place were India, Chinese Taipei, and Denmark. Denmark rose one spot due to the presence of two players in the men’s singles World Rankings.
With 2021 in the books, 2022 is sure to thrill many badminton fans all over the world. In the meantime, let’s take a look at how the top badminton countries of 2021 stacked up against each other.
If you want to find out which countries were the best at badminton in other years, check out our Top Badminton Countries page.
Here’s a table of each badminton country’s rank and the number of players or teams each has in the 2021 World Rankings!
Rank | Country | MS | WS | MD | WD | XD | Total |
| 1 | Japan | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
| 2 | China | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 2 | Indonesia | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 3 | Malaysia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | South Korea | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Thailand | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | India | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Chiese Taipei | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Denmark | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Hong Kong | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | Spain | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | Bulgaria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
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Comparisons From 2020
Japan retained its position with talent across all five badminton divisions. In 2021, Japan’s talent dominated the men’s and women’s doubles divisions. Indonesia slipped a place lower as it continued to struggle with producing top talent in the women’s singles division. China’s position remained unchanged.
South Korea stayed in third place, but the third-best badminton country in 2020 and 2021 shared its position with Malaysia and Thailand, that climbed two spots from its 2020 position.
Chinese Taipei is another top badminton country that retained its position. But like South Korea, it held the same position alongside other countries, namely India and Denmark. India raised its stock in 2021 with a new entry in the men’s doubles division.
Hong Kong remained in fifth place while England and Spain settled for last place for the second year in a row. In 2021, Bulgaria joined the World Rankings with one team finally in the women’s doubles World Rankings.
Top Talent Across Various Badminton Divisions in 2021
We now know which country got the biggest slice of the World Ranking pie in 2021. But who were the best teams and players for the year?
Read on to find out!
Men’s Singles
Viktor Axelsen reigned atop the rankings for the second year in a row. Joining him in the rankings is fellow Danish shuttler, Anders Antonsen.
Rank | Player | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1 | Viktor Axelsen | Denmark | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | Kento Momota | Japan | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | Anders Antonsen | Denmark | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | Chou Tien Chen | Chinese Taipei | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Anthony Sinisuka Ginting | Indonesia | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Chen Long | China | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Lee Zii Jia | Malaysia | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | Jonatan Christie | Indonesia | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Ng Ka Long Angus | Hong Kong | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Kidambi Srikanth | India | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Women’s Singles
Here are the women’s standings for 2021. As you can see, Akane Yamaguchi is trailing world number one Tai Tzu Ying. Will 2022 be Akane Yamaguchi’s year? We’ll see.
Rank | Player | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1 | Tai Tzu Ying | Chinese Taipei | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 2 | Akane Yamaguchi | Japan | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | Chen Yufei | China | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | An Se Young | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Nozomi Okuhara | Japan | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Carolina Marin | Spain | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | P.V. Sundhu | India | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | Ratchanok Intanon | Thailand | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | He Bing Jiao | China | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Pornpawee Chochuwong | Thailand | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Men’s Doubles
The Minions were 2021’s best men’s doubles team. In close second are their compatriots Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan.
The Taiwanese team of Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin is third in the World Rankings. But, the up-and-coming team of Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi aren’t far behind.
Rank | Team | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1 | Marcus Fernaldi Gideon Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo | Indonesia | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | Hendra Setiawan Mohammad Ahsan | Indonesia | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | Lee Yang Wang Chi Lin | Chinese Taipei | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Takuro Hoki Yugo Kobayashi | Japan | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Hiroyuki Endo Yuta Watanabe | Japan | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Takeshi Kamura Keigo Sonoda | Japan | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Aaron Chia Soi Wooh Yik | Malaysia | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | Fajar Alfian Muhammad Rian Ardianto | Indonesia | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Kim Astrup Anders Skaarup Rasmussen | Denmark | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Satwiksairaj Rankireddy Chirag Shetty | India | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Women’s Doubles
China’s Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan cemented their place atop the rankings with their victory at the 2021 World Championships. However, South Korea’s teams are hot on the Chinese duo’s tail. It will be exciting to see who takes the number one spot in 2022.
Rank | Player/Team | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1 | Chen Qing Chen Jia Yi Fan | China | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Lee So Hee Shin Seung Chan | South Korea | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Kim So Yeong Kong Hee Yong | South Korea | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | Yuki Fukushima Sayaka Hirota | Japan | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Mayu Matsumoto Wakana Nagahara | Japan | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Greysia Polii Apriyani Rahayu | Indonesia | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Nami Matsuyama Chiharu Shida | Japan | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | Du Yue Li Yin Hui | China | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Jongkolphan Kititharakul Rawinda Prajongjai | Thailand | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Gabriela Stoeva Stefani Stoeva | Bulgaria | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Mixed Doubles
The powerhouse Thai duo of Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai dominated 2021 with seven World Tour victories. The pair also capped their 2021 season by winning the 2021 World Championships.
Rank | Player/Team | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1 | Dechapol Puavaranukroh Sapsiree Taerattanachai | Thailand | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Zheng Si Wei Huang Ya Qiong | China | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | Wang Yi Lyu Huang Dong Ping | China | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Yuta Watanabe Arisa Higashino | Japan | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | Praveen Jordan Melati Daeva Oktavianti | Indonesia | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | Seo Seung Jae Chae Yu Jung | South Korea | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | Tang Chun Man Tse Ying Suet | Hong Kong | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | Chan Peng Soon Goh Liu Ying | Malaysia | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Marcus Ellis Lauren Smith | England | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Tan Kian Meng Lai Pei Jing | Malaysia | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Japan: Well-rounded and Well-represented Across All Disciplines in 2021
Japan continued to be the most well-represented badminton nation. In 2021, the country retained its spot as the top-performing badminton nation in the world. All that’s left for the country to snuff out any doubt is to produce a talent that can ascend to the top of the rankings.
To date, Akane Yamaguchi and Kento Momota are the most likely Japanese talents to reach World Number One status.
Men’s Singles
- Kento Momota | Age: 27 | Rank 2 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – The Japanese men’s singles shuttler forces opponents into bad positions with his straight shots.
Women’s Singles
- Akane Yamaguchi | Age: 24 | Rank 2 | 1st: 3, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – Defensive skills and endurance make Akane Yamaguchi a threat in the women’s singles division.
- Nozomi Okuhara | Age: 26 | Rank 5 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – Specializes in outworking and outpacing opponents with her unique court coverage and fast-paced style
Men’s Doubles
- Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi | Ages: both 26 | Rank 4 | 1st: 4, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – Known for their consistency, Takuro Hoki and Yogo Kobayashi had a successful 2021 season with their team place and pace.
- Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe | Ages: 35 and 24 | Rank 5 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – The pair capitalized on their combination of youthful vigor and experience to win the 2021 All-England.
- Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda | Ages: both 31 | Rank 6 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – The duo proved their expertise in 2021 with their unorthodox approach and team play.
Women’s Doubles
- Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota | Ages: 28 and 27 | Rank 4 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – The pair’s offensive strategy breaks the opposing team’s formation, opening up opportunities for shots near the net.
- Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara | Ages: 26 and 25| Rank 5 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – The pair has a well-rounded playing style that can be difficult to strategize for.
- Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida | Ages: 23 and 22 | Rank 7 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – The pair exemplifies how far tactical net play and long shots can get any duo in badminton.
Mixed Doubles
- Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino | Ages: 24 and 25 | Rank 4 | 1st: 3, 2nd: 3, 3rd/4th: 0 – The pair blends their counter-attacking style with their athleticism — often, to devastating effect.
China: Still in Second Place Despite the Exit of Three Players From the World Rankings
In 2021, China lost three players in the World Rankings. First, the country lost Shi Yu Qui, a player who sustained injuries between 2020 and 2021. The loss left Chen Long as the sole representative for the men’s singles discipline.
With the “Twin Towers” off the World Rankings, China lost its men’s doubles bets. Nevertheless, representation in the women’s and mixed doubles enabled China to hold on to its number two position.
Men’s Singles
- Chen Long | Age: 32 | Rank 6 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – Chen Long has a defensive counter-attacking style amplified by his footwork and powerful clears.
Women’s Singles
- Chen Yufei | Age: 23 | Rank 3 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – Boasts everything from full-court coverage to well-roundedness in style.
- He Bing Jiao | Age: 27 | Rank 9 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – An offensive player with a knack for defensive clears and net shots.
Women’s Doubles
- Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan | Ages: both 24 | Rank 1 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – The duo puts their tactical offensive style on full display with every opponent they face.
- Du Yue and Li Yin Hui | Ages: 23 and 24 | Rank 8 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – China’s Next Gen duo specializes in exploiting offensive errors.
Mixed Doubles
- Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong | Ages: 24 and 27 | Rank 2 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – Tactical footwork and speed are among the advantages of this mixed doubles team.
- Wang Yi Lyu and Huang Dong Ping | Ages: 27 and 26 | Rank 3 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – The pair performed well in 2021 thanks to their team play and unparalleled tactical coordination. The team also showcased their offensive style at the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Indonesia: Down One Spot Due to a Need for More Women’s Singles Talent
Indonesia continued to flex its muscle in the men’s divisions. The country has three teams in the men’s doubles and two up-and-coming players in men’s singles. But like in 2020, the country lacked representation in women’s singles.
Men’s Singles
- Anthony Sinisuka Ginting | Age: 25 | Rank 5 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – The “Giant Killer” has a calm and tactical style of play and knows when to pick up the pace.
- Jonatan Christie | Age: 24 | Rank 8 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – Court awareness and speed enable Jonatan Christie to dictate a rally’s pace.
Men’s Doubles
- Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo | Ages: 30 and 25 | Rank 1 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 3, 3rd/4th: 0 – Speed and timing are the strong suits of Badminton’s Minions, as shown in their 2021 performances.
- Hendra Setiawan and Mohammad Ahsan | Ages: 37 and 34 | Rank 2 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – As the pair moves past their athletic prime, Setiawan and Ahsan capitalize on their experience and tactical savvy on the court.
- Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto | Ages: both 25 | Rank 8 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – Has a counter-attacking style made more effective by their impeccable team play.
Women’s Doubles
- Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu | Ages: 34 and 23 | Rank 6 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – Indonesia’s dynamic women’s doubles duo exemplifies a well-rounded style of play made effective by Polii’s experience and Rahayu’s athleticism.
Mixed Doubles
- Praveen Jordan and Melati Daeva Oktavianti | Ages: both 27 | Rank 6 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – The duo boasts a formidable combination of styles with power coming from Jordan and reactive net play courtesy of Oktavianti.
Malaysia: Improved Its 2021 Position With Another Mixed Doubles Team in the Rankings
Malaysia has long been a mid-tier badminton nation. But in 2021, we saw the country improve its standing with another team in the mixed doubles World Rankings. However, despite the added talent, Malaysia still lacked female players in the women’s rankings.
Men’s Singles
- Lee Zii Jia | Age: 25 | Rank 7 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – The always-improving Lee Zii Jia stuns many opponents with power, speed, and his unique offensive style.
Men’s Doubles
- Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik | Ages: 24 and 23 | Rank 7 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – The duo climbed two spots from their 2020 rank with their impressive on-court team play and attacking style.
Mixed Doubles
- Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying | Ages: 33 and 32 | Rank 8 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – The 2016 Rio Olympic silver medalists specialize in a counter-attacking style of play.
- Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing | Ages: 27 and 29 | Rank 10 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – The duo’s entry to the rankings improved Malaysia’s representation in the mixed doubles scene. Time will tell if this new pair will ascend the World Rankings in 2022.
South Korea: Retained Its Position in 2021 With Its Women’s Doubles Teams
South Korea fielded a talent-stacked women’s team in 2021. However, like in 2020, the country lacked representation in men’s singles and doubles. The lack of male talent in the last few years was always a barrier to South Korea’s well-roundedness — and it’s a barrier the country must eliminate to raise its stock in the rankings.
Women’s Singles
- An Se Young | Age: 19 | Rank 4 | 1st: 3, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – Has a defensive style of play and holds her own against the toughest shuttlers in the women’s singles discipline.
Women’s Doubles
- Lee So Hee and Shin Seung Chan| Ages: both 27 | Rank 2 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 – The duo uses the teamwork and coordination they’ve developed for years to their advantage.
- Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong | Ages: 29 and 25 | Rank 3 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 – Dictates the pace with a well-rounded style coupled with impeccable net play courtesy of Kong.
Mixed Doubles
- Seo Seung Jae and Chae Yu Jung | Ages: 24 and 26 | Rank 6 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 – The duo retained their World Number Six position in 2021 but need to step things up a notch to break into the top five.
Thailand: Improved in 2021 With Presence in Three out of Five Badminton Disciplines
Thailand rose one spot above its rank in 2020 with a new team in the women’s doubles rankings. The country still lacked talent in the men’s singles and doubles disciplines.
The country would have to shift gears to field talent in these divisions with its most likely candidates Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Kantaphon Wangcharoen way down in the 20th and 21st positions.
Women’s Singles
- Ratchanok Intanon | Age: 26 | Rank 8 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – Has a tricky and deceptive playing style that catches many opponents off guard.
- Pronpawee Chochuwong | Age: 23 | Rank 10 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – A newcomer to the Top Ten Rankings, Chochuwong has an unorthodox style that may be a threat in 2022.
Women’s Doubles
- Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai | Ages: both 28 | Rank 9 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – The newest entrants in the women’s doubles rankings are some of the more exciting prospects to look out for in 2022.
Mixed Doubles
- Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai | Ages: 24 and 29 | Rank 9 | 1st: 8, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – The duo dominated 2021 with fast-paced play, endurance, and precision counterattacking.
India: Up One Spot With Kidambi Srikanth’s Entry in the Men’s Singles Rankings
In 2020, India had no representative in the men’s singles discipline. However, that changed in 2021 with Kidambi Srikanth breaking into the World Rankings.
However, India remains unrepresented in the women’s and mixed doubles. If India can produce talent that enters the women’s and mixed doubles rankings, the country’s rank will improve significantly.
Men’s Singles
- Kidambi Srikanth | Age: 29 | Rank 10 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – A runner-up finish at the 2021 World Championships propelled Srikanth into the top ten position.
Women’s Singles
- P.V. Sundhu | Age: 26 | Rank 7 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 – Her powerful smash makes her a backcourt threat.
Men’s Doubles
- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty | Ages: 21 and 24 | Rank 10 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – The duo retained their 2020 position. The prospect of climbing the rankings and the upsets the Rankireddy and Shetty have chalked up in 2021 make them an exciting pair to watch in 2022.
Chinese Taipei: Still in Fourth Place With Tai Tzu Ying, Chou Tien Chen, Lee Yang, and Wang Chi Lin Leading the Charge
Chinese Taipei remains in fourth place in 2021 with their 2020 representatives still in the rankings. Time will tell if the country will field talent in the women’s and men’s doubles rankings.
Men’s Singles
- Chou Tien Chen | Age: 31 | Rank 4 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – The quirky and autodidactic Chou Tien Chen relies on speed and his ability to adapt to get the best of his opponents.
Women’s Singles
- Tai Tzu Ying | Age: 27 | Rank 4 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 4, 3rd/4th: 0 – Athletic and explosive, Tai Tzu Ying dispatches opponents with her smashes, clears, and defensive capabilities. She also has endurance, court coverage, and control, making her one of the most well-rounded players in modern badminton.
Men’s Doubles
- Lee Yang and Wang Chi Lin | Ages: both 26 | Rank 3 | 1st: 4, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – The history-making pair dispatched their 2021 competition with their deadly combination of power and speed.
Denmark: Up to Fourth Place With a Men’s Doubles Team in the Rankings
In 2020, Danish representation was limited to Viktor Axelsen and Anders Antonsen — both in the men’s singles discipline. But in 2021, Denmark had new men’s doubles contenders in Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen.
Will Denmark be the well-rounded badminton country it was decades ago? Time will tell.
Men’s Singles
- Viktor Axelsen | Age: 27 | Rank 1 | 1st: 7, 2nd: 3, 3rd/4th: 0 – Piles on the pressure with steep and direct shots thanks to his towering stature.
- Anders Antonsen | Age: 24 | Rank 3 | 1st: 2, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – Antonsen’s flexibility and agility enable him to place more power behind his smashes.
Men’s Doubles
- Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen | Ages: 29, 32 | Rank 9 | 1st: 1, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – The pair stuns opponents with their combination of powerful offense and counterattacking retrievals.
Hong Kong: Still in the Game in Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles
The country held on to its position with its players in 2020 still in the rankings. Ng Ka Long Angus slipped one spot in 2021. But the country’s mixed doubles representatives Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet climbed to number seven.
Men’s Singles
- Ng Ka Long Angus | Age: 27 | Rank 9 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – Has an adaptive style of play, shifting between defense and offense depending on the opponent.
Mixed Doubles
- Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet | Ages: 26 and 30 | Rank 7 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – Winning the Indonesia Masters elevated this team’s rank in 2021.
Spain: Had a Sole Representative in Carolina Marin
As with 2020, Spain struggled to produce talent in another division outside of women’s singles. Carolina Marin remained Spain’s sole representative in the World Rankings.
Women’s Singles
- Carolina Marin | Age: 28 | Rank 6 | 1st: 4, 2nd: 1, 3rd/4th: 0 – 2021 was an excellent year for Marin despite slipping one spot lower. She boasts an offensive style made deadlier by her natural athleticism.
England: One Representative in the Mixed Doubles Discipline
England held on to its spot in 2021 with one team in the mixed doubles discipline. In 2021, Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith were still number nine in the mixed doubles rankings.
Mixed Doubles
- Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith | Ages: 32 and 30 | Rank 9 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 0, 3rd/4th: 0 – The duo has some of the best teamwork of any mixed doubles pair, with both players being able to switch between the front and rear.
Bulgaria: New to the Rankings
Bulgaria entered the World Rankings in 2021 with the ascent of its women’s doubles pair Gabriella Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva. The two broke into the rankings as of November 2021, raising their positions three places from where they were in 2020.
Bulgaria has always struggled with producing world-class badminton talent. Hopefully, the representation given by the newly promoted Bulgarian team gives the country a glimmer of hope.
Women’s Doubles
- Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva| Ages: 32 and 30 | Rank 9 | 1st: 0, 2nd: 2, 3rd/4th: 0 – The two shuttlers have an impeccable ability to return rallies thanks to their reaction time and endurance.
Who’ll Take the Top Spot in 2022?
I featured the best badminton countries in 2021 in this blog post, but it’s one thing to be the best in one year — it’s another to hold on to the top spot a year later.
That’s how it is in badminton. A country (or player) can be dominant one year and play second fiddle to another in the next.
Who will reign supreme in 2022? All we can do is stay tuned to the games and rankings!
Visit our Top Badminton Countries page to know more about the rankings on other years.
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