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BWF World Championships
Badminton tournament
Badminton tournament
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| current_season | 2025 BWF World Championships |
| formerly | IBF World Championships |
| sport | Badminton |
| logo | BWF World Championships.png |
| founded | |
| country | BWF member nations |
The BWF World Championships is a badminton tournament organized by the Badminton World Federation. It's the most prestigious badminton competition, offering the most ranking points, along with the Summer Olympics badminton events introduced in 1992. The winners of the tournament are World Champions of the sport and are awarded a gold medal.
The tournament started in 1977 and was held once every three years until 1983. However, the International Badminton Federation faced difficulty in hosting the first two events as the World Badminton Federation, which later merged with the IBF to form one badminton federation, hosted the same tournament a year after the IBF World Championships with the same goals.
Since 1985, the tournament became biennial and played once every two years until 2005. Starting 2006, the tournament was changed to an annual event on the BWF calendar. The tournament is not held during the Summer Olympics years to avoid schedule conflicts.
Editions
| Year | Edition | Host city | Host country | Dates | Top Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | I | Malmö (1) | Sweden (1) | 3–8 May | (1) | |
| 1980 | II | Jakarta (1) | Indonesia (1) | 27 May – 1 June | (1) | |
| 1983 | III | Copenhagen (1) | Denmark (1) | 2–8 May | (1) | |
| 1985 | IV | Calgary (1) | Canada (1) | 10–16 June | (2) | |
| 1987 | V | Beijing (1) | China (1) | 18–24 May | (3) | |
| 1989 | VI | Jakarta (2) | Indonesia (2) | 29 May – 4 June | (4) | |
| 1991 | VII | Copenhagen (2) | Denmark (2) | 2–8 May | (5) | |
| 1993 | VIII | Birmingham (1) | England (1) | 31 May – 6 June | (2) | |
| 1995 | IX | Lausanne (1) | Switzerland (1) | 22–28 May | (3) | |
| 1997 | X | Glasgow (1) | Scotland (1) | 24 May – 1 June | (6) | |
| 1999 | XI | Copenhagen (3) | Denmark (3) | 10–23 May | (1) | |
| 2001 | XII | Seville (1) | Spain (1) | 3–10 June | (7) | |
| 2003 | XIII | Birmingham (2) | England (2) | 28 July – 3 August | (8) | |
| 2005 | XIV | Anaheim (1) | United States (1) | 15–21 August | (9) | |
| 2006 | XV | Madrid (1) | Spain (2) | 18–24 September | (10) | |
| 2007 | XVI | Kuala Lumpur (1) | Malaysia (1) | 13–19 August | (11) | |
| 2009 | XVII | Hyderabad (1) | India (1) | 10–16 August | (12) | |
| 2010 | XVIII | Paris (1) | France (1) | 23–29 August | (13) | |
| 2011 | XIX | London (1) | England (3) | 8–14 August | (14) | |
| 2013 | XX | Guangzhou (1) | China (2) | 5–11 August | (15) | |
| 2014 | XXI | Copenhagen (4) | Denmark (4) | 25–31 August | (16) | |
| 2015 | XXII | Jakarta (3) | Indonesia (3) | 10–16 August | (17) | |
| 2017 | XXIII | Glasgow (2) | Scotland (2) | 21–27 August | (18) | |
| 2018 | XXIV | Nanjing (1) | China (3) | 30 July – 5 August | (19) | |
| 2019 | XXV | Basel (1) | Switzerland (2) | 19–25 August | (1) | |
| 2021 | XXVI | Huelva (1) | Spain (3) | 12–19 December | (2) | |
| 2022 | XXVII | Tokyo (1) | Japan (1) | 22–28 August | (20) | |
| 2023 | XXVIII | Copenhagen (5) | Denmark (5) | 21–27 August | (2) | |
| 2025 | XXIX | Paris (2) | France (2) | 25–31 August | (21) | |
| 2026 | XXX | New Delhi (1) | India (2) | 17–23 August |
|}
Winners summary
Main article: Gold medalists at the BWF World Championships
As of 2025, only 22 countries have achieved at least a bronze medal in the tournament: 11 from Asia, eight from Europe, two from North America and one from Oceania. Africa is the only confederation that has not won a medal. Canada is the newest country to won a medal in 2025.
At the age of 18, Ratchanok Inthanon became the youngest winner of a singles title at the Championships. Ratchanok was less than 3 months older than Jang Hye-ock was when she won the women's doubles title at the 1995 Championships.
Most successful players
Several players have won gold medals in more than one category in a World Championship; this includes:
- DEN Lene Køppen, 1977, mixed doubles and women's singles
- INA Christian Hadinata, 1980, men's doubles and mixed doubles
- KOR Park Joo-bong, 1985 & 1991, men's doubles and mixed doubles
- CHN Han Aiping, 1985, women's singles and doubles
- CHN Ge Fei, 1997, women's doubles and mixed doubles
- KOR Kim Dong-moon, 1999, men's doubles and mixed doubles
- CHN Gao Ling, 2001, women's doubles and mixed doubles
- CHN Zhao Yunlei, 2014 & 2015, women's doubles and mixed doubles
- KOR Seo Seung-jae, 2023, men's doubles and mixed doubles
From 1977 up to 2001, the medals were usually divided among five countries, namely China, Korea, Denmark, Indonesia, Malaysia. However, in 2003, the winners included seven countries and in 2005 and 2025 the medal board contained a record high of ten countries.
Tony Gunawan also bears the distinction of winning a gold medal in Men's Doubles, representing two countries, 2001 partnering with Halim Haryanto for Indonesia and in 2005 partnering with Howard Bach to give the United States its first medal in the competition.
The 2005 edition also brought new faces to the mixed doubles event which had been dominated by China and Korea since 1997. With the retirement of defending champions and two-time winners Kim Dong-moon/Ra Kyung-min (Korea), Nova Widianto/Liliyana Natsir won Indonesia's first mixed doubles gold since 1980 when Christian Hadinata/Imelda Wiguna won it last for Indonesia.
Below is the list of the most successful players ever, with 3 or more gold medals.
| Rank | Player | MS | WS | MD | WD | XD | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHN Lin Dan | 5 | 5 | ||||
| CHN Zhao Yunlei | 2 | 3 | 5 | ||||
| KOR Park Joo-bong | 2 | 3 | 5 | ||||
| 4 | CHN Cai Yun | 4 | 4 | ||||
| CHN Chen Qingchen | 4 | 4 | |||||
| CHN Fu Haifeng | 4 | 4 | |||||
| CHN Gao Ling | 3 | 1 | 4 | ||||
| CHN Jia Yifan | 4 | 4 | |||||
| CHN Zhang Nan | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||||
| INA Liliyana Natsir | 4 | 4 | |||||
| INA Hendra Setiawan | 4 | 4 | |||||
| 12 | CHN Ge Fei | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||
| CHN Guan Weizhen | 3 | 3 | |||||
| CHN Han Aiping | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||
| CHN Huang Sui | 3 | 3 | |||||
| CHN Huang Yaqiong | 3 | 3 | |||||
| CHN Li Lingwei | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||
| CHN Lin Ying | 3 | 3 | |||||
| CHN Yu Yang | 3 | 3 | |||||
| CHN Zheng Siwei | 3 | 3 | |||||
| INA Mohammad Ahsan | 3 | 3 | |||||
| JPN Akane Yamaguchi | 3 | 3 | |||||
| KOR Kim Dong-moon | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| KOR Seo Seung-jae | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||
| ESP Carolina Marín | 3 | 3 |
Below is the list of the most successful player(s) in each category (listed according to their last title):
| Category | Player | Total | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS | CHN Lin Dan | 5 | 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 |
| WS | JPN Akane Yamaguchi | 3 | 2021, 2022, 2025 |
| ESP Carolina Marín | 3 | 2014, 2015, 2018 | |
| MD | CHN Cai Yun | 4 | 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011 (with Fu Haifeng) |
| CHN Fu Haifeng | 4 | 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011 (with Cai Yun) | |
| INA Hendra Setiawan | 4 | 2007 (with Markis Kido), 2013, 2015, 2019 (with Mohammad Ahsan) | |
| WD | CHN Chen Qingchen | 4 | 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023 (with Jia Yifan) |
| CHN Jia Yifan | 4 | 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023 (with Chen Qingchen) | |
| XD | INA Liliyana Natsir | 4 | 2005, 2007 (with Nova Widianto), 2013, 2017 (with Tontowi Ahmad) |
MS: Men's singles; WS: Women's singles; MD: Men's doubles; WD: Women's doubles; XD: Mixed doubles
Most successful national teams
Below is the gold medalists shown based by category and countries after the 2023 BWF World Championships. China has been the most successful in the World Championships ever since its inception in 1977. They were the only country ever to achieve a shutout of the medals which they did in 1987, 2010 and 2011.
BOLD means overall winner of that World Championships
| Rank | Nation | 77 | 80 | 83 | 85 | 87 | 89 | 91 | 93 | 95 | 97 | 99 | 01 | 03 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 25 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 11.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 2.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 |
: Korea won on the superior of two silver medals to China's one and thus Korea became the overall winner. : China won on superior of four silver medals to Indonesia's one and thus China became the overall winner. : China won on the superior of two silver medals to Indonesia's none and thus China became the overall winner. : China won on superior of four bronze medals to Japan's two and thus China became the overall winner.
Championship per country
Men's singles
| Rank | Nation | 77 | 80 | 83 | 85 | 87 | 89 | 91 | 93 | 95 | 97 | 99 | 01 | 03 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 25 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 15 | |||||||||||||||
| 2 | X | X | X | X | X | X | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | X | X | X | X | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | X | X | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | X | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| X | 1 |
Women's singles
| Rank | Nation | 77 | 80 | 83 | 85 | 87 | 89 | 91 | 93 | 95 | 97 | 99 | 01 | 03 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 25 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 15 | |||||||||||||||
| 2 | X | X | X | X | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | X | X | X | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | X | X | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| X | X | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | X | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| X | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| X | 1 |
Men's doubles
| Rank | Nation | 77 | 80 | 83 | 85 | 87 | 89 | 91 | 93 | 95 | 97 | 99 | 01 | 03 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 25 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | X | X | X | X | X | X | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | X | X | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | X | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| X | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| X | 1 |
Women's doubles
| Rank | Nation | 77 | 80 | 83 | 85 | 87 | 89 | 91 | 93 | 95 | 97 | 99 | 01 | 03 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 25 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 24 | ||||||
| 2 | X | X | X | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | X | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| X | 1 |
Mixed doubles
Medal table
Medal distribution
Men's singles
Due to the disqualification on suspicion of violation of anti-doping regulations, the 2014 silver medalist Lee Chong Wei was stripped of his medal and thus the medal count does not add up.
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
Mixed doubles
References
References
- "World Ranking System". Badminton World Federation.
- "Regulations for World Championships". Badminton World Federation.
- (17 April 2013). "Chin Chai hopes BWF will offer prize money for world meet". The Star.
- (12 August 2013). "World champion Ratchanok Inthanon also a 'devoted' kid". The Indian Express.
- Hearn, Don. (11 August 2013). "WORLDS Finals – Ratchanok youngest ever singles World Champion". Badzine.
- (27 April 2015). "Lee Chong Wei: Badminton star given eight-month ban for doping". British Broadcasting Corporation.
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