Best Badminton Player Ever – Mens Singles

This discipline of badminton might be one of the hardest challenges possible. Nowwhere else so many different skills are required. You need to have played a game yourself to understand how difficult it is to cover the whole court all by yourself. All the more impressive how the following professional badminton players can keep this intensity up for hours.

Best Mens Singles Player Ever in Badminton

12. Son Wan Ho (Korea)

Very smooth and elegant player. Unfortunately had quite some trouble with injuries. Nonetheless offered great resistance to some of the best badminton players ever (see below).

Greatest achievements: Olympic bronze medalist, three-times Asia games gold medalist
Strength: Technique, deception, movement
Weakness: Lack of power/winning shot, too relaxed

• Smashpower: 75%
  
• Net play: 95%
• Deception: 90%
  
• Creativity: 90%
  
• Stamina: 100%
  
• Movement: 95%

11. Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Indonesia)

Very smooth and elegant player. Unfortunately had quite some trouble with injuries. Nonetheless offered great resistance to some of the best badminton players ever (see below).

Greatest achievements: Olympic bronze medalist, three-times Asia games gold medalist
Strength: Technique, deception, movement
Weakness: Lack of power/winning shot, too relaxed

• Smashpower: 70%
  
• Net play: 80%
• Deception: 90%
  
• Creativity: 85%
  
• Stamina: 70%
  
• Movement: 85%

Additional read: Best badminton player ever in mens doubles

10. Kento Momota (Japan)

After his ban from the tour, the man from Japan came back even stronger and has been the strongest player of 2018 so far. Given the sheere number of top players, this is quite a feat in itself. His attacking game may not be as strong as “Prime Lin Dan`s”, but apart from the he has it all. Great court coverage, super defense and netplay, top-notch physically and most important…tactically very astute and mentally strong.

Greatest achievements: Asian Games Champion 2018
Strength: Tactics, precision and intensity
Weakness: Has to build his points with patience, no lethal smash

• Smashpower: 85%
  
• Net play: 95%
• Deception: 90%
  
• Creativity: 95%
  
• Stamina: 100%
  
• Movement: 100%

9. Viktor Axelsen (Denmark)

The danish youngster is considered to be the successor of a great fellow countryman that will also appear in this ranking. Let`s hope he can fulfil the expectations.

Greatest achievements: Olympic bronze medalist, European champion
Strength: Offensive shots, deception
Weakness: Defense, movement

• Smashpower:85%
• Net play: 90%
• Deception: 95%
  
• Creativity: 95%
  
• Stamina: 80%
  
• Movement: 75%
  

8. Xia Xuanze (China)

Typical straight forward chinese singles player. World champion 2003.

Greatest achievements: World champion 2003, All England Champion 2000
Strength: Stamina, speed, mental focus
Weakness: Creativity, basically a runner

• Smashpower: 85%
  
• Net play: 75%
• Deception: 70%
  
• Creativity: 70%
  
• Stamina: 100%
  
• Movement: 95%
  

Additional read: Best badminton mixed doubles pair

7. Chen Hong (China)

Very steady and straight chinese player over a long time. Won several titles, but left the big events empty-handed.

Greatest achievements: World no. 1 in 2002, two-time All England champion
Strength: Stamina
Weakness: Hard worker, no special strengths

• Smashpower: 85%
  
• Net play: 85%
• Deception: 85%
  
• Creativity: 85%
  
• Stamina: 95%
  
• Movement: 90%
  

6. Hendrawan (Indonesia)

When on fire, unstoppable.

Greatest achievements: Olympic silver medal 2000, world champion 2001, three Thomas Cup victoroes with Indonesia national squad (winning every single one of his matches)
Strength: deceiptive net-play, variety, wrong-footing his opponents
Weakness: Consistency

• Smashpower: 90%
  
• Net play: 100%
• Deception: 100%
  
• Creativity: 95%
  
• Stamina: 80%
  
• Movement: 90%
  

5. Peter Gade (Denmark)

Europe`s frontman in badminton unfortunately retired in the meantime. For over a decade he inspired with strong technique and especially with his feints. His game was easy on the eyes, in addition he was a fair sportsman and great role model…big loss for badminton.

Greatest achievements: Five-time European champion, four-time bronze medalist at world championships, world no. 1
Strength: Technique, deceiption, elegant
Weakness: Lack of power

• Smashpower: 80%
  
• Net play: 95%
  
• Deception: 100%
  
• Creativity: 95%
  
• Stamina: 85%
  
• Movement: 90%
  

Additional read: Best badminton player ever in womens singles

4. Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia)

The Malaysian could be at one with the world, wouldn`t it be for his Chinese opponent. Lee Chong Wei is clearly superior to almost everyone, against Lin Dan he always fails. Basically he has everything, but there is something missing I can`t really formulate. Maybe he is too nice and his game relies too much on physical advantage. That`s why he is only number five despite great achievements.

Greatest achievements: Olympic silver-medalist thrice!!! King of Super Series tournaments
Strength: Lightning fast, technique
Weakness: Too passive at times, relies on defense too much, which resulted in many, many defeats in finals

• Smashpower: 90%
  
• Net play: 95%
• Deception: 90%
  
• Creativity: 95%
  
• Stamina: 100%
  
• Movement: 100%

Additional read: Best badminton mens doubles pair ever

3. Chen Long (China)

Chen Long is an absolute beast. When he goes into “no unforced errors”-mode, there is virtually nothing, opponents can do to score a point. He makes the court smaller for the guy on the other side of the net. Must be horrible to play him, that`s why he is the number three of the best badminton players of all times!

Greatest achievements: Olympic gold medal, two-time world champion
Strength: Court coverage, Stamina, mental strength
Weakness: Not that naturally gifted, hard worker

• Smashpower: 95%
  
• Net play: 90%
• Deception: 85%
  
• Creativity:80%
• Stamina: 100%
  
• Movement: 100%
  

2. Taufik Hidayat (Indonesia)

The legendary backhand: Whenever someone in our club plays a good backhand shot, this is automatically followed by screaming “Taufik!!!”. Lin Dan is the most successful, but the coolest, most talented and most spectacular badminton player ever is Taufik Hidayat!

Greatest achievements: Olympic gold medal, world champion, two-time Asian Games champion, a record six-time Indonesia Open champion
Strength: Deceiption, technique, best backhand ever, smooth movement
Weakness: Stamina, lack of motivation

• Smashpower: 95%
  
• Net play: 100%
  
• Deception: 100%
  
• Creativity: 100%
  
• Stamina: 80%
  
• Movement: 95%
  

 von Mayeres (Eigenes Werk) [GFDL oder CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

1. Lin Dan (China)

The two times olympic and multiple world champion has actually no weakness at all: Perfect fitness, perfect speed, perfect reflexes, perfect shots, perfect feel for the ball and a mental giant. Definitely the best badminton player ever, there is no denying it. The “Roger Federer” of badminton sports!

Greatest achievements: Virtually everything: Two-time Olympic gold medal champion, Five-time world champion, Six-time All England champion and anything else worth winning at least once!
Strength: Lethal smash, sudden injection of pace, champion mentality
Weakness: Hm, are there any? Pretty much the perfect player, maybe his net game not as good as Taufik`s

• Smashpower: 100%
  
• Net play 95%
• Deception: 95%
  
• Creativity: 100%
  
• Stamina: 100%
  
• Movement: 100%
  

Additional read: Best male badminton player ever in mixed doubles

Additional read: The GOAT retires – Lin Dan no longer on world stage

I think the no. 1 spot of the ranking of best badminton players ever is not open to discussion. But do you agree with the rest?