Talk of some of the most popular sports and badminton counts in the list. It’s one of the few games that require no physical contact between the opposing players.
The sport’s fame has led to the emergence of many esteemed badminton competitions worldwide.
The sport has picked up in many countries.
Table of Contents
10 Most Popular Badminton Countries
China
When talking about the countries famous for badminton, China tops the list. Also, it spends a significant amount of money promoting the sport. And it has paid off in many ways.
China has garnered many medals since 1977 in the international badminton competitions. In the Olympics, China has won at least 47 medals in the badminton game. It also has top-ranking players such as Chen Long, Lin Dan, and Chen Yufei. In China, the badminton game is famous in colleges and universities.
Owing to the fame of the sport, the country produces a percentage of the best badminton rackets consumed worldwide.
Malaysia
Badminton forms one of the esteemed sports that unites Malaysians. In international events, Malaysia has top players such as Lee Chong Wei, Tan Wee Kiong, Goh V Shem, and Lee Zii Jia.
Besides individual players, the country’s national badminton team has also registered remarkable performance. The racket sport is deeply rooted in the country’s history.
History has it that by 1925, Penang (a state in Malaysia) had formed Penang badminton association. But, it wasn’t until 1964 that the badminton association of Malaysia sprung up.
The Malaysian badminton national team has won the Thomas cup 5 times. Also, it has shown remarkable performance in the Sudirman Cup, commonwealth games, and Southeast Asian Games.
Indonesia
Indonesia also counts among the most popular badminton countries. After China, Indonesia is the only country to have won more medals in the badminton Olympics; 8 Gold, 6 silver, and 7 bronze medals.
And no other country has won the Thomas cup more than Indonesia; it has a total of 14 medals. Since the Olympics began in 1992, Indonesia has consistently scooped gold medals except in 2012.
Even in the Badminton World Championships, Indonesia holds the second position. It has garnered 33 bronze, 17 silver, and 21 gold medals.
Some of the countries famous badminton players include Lilyana Natsir and Hendra Setiawan.
South Korea
South Korea also appears among the popular badminton countries. It has produced some top badminton players such as San Wan Ho, Lee Yong Dae, Shonh Seung Mo, and Park Joo-bong.
In badminton, South Korea has made a reputation in the women’s doubles. Its performance in the World Badminton Championship is also remarkable; South Korea has won 29 bronze, 13 silver, and 10 gold medals.
Apart from Chinese players, the South Korean player, Kim Dong Moon is the only player who has won a gold medal two times in a badminton game at the Olympics level.
And according to the top 20 players by BWF ranking South Korea has many players in women’s singles (4th, 18th, and 20th position), women’s doubles (2nd, 3rd, 11th, and 15th position).
One of the promising South Korean young players, An Se-young has registered outstanding skills in badminton.
Japan
Talk of the best badminton strings, and you have Japanese-based companies such as Yonex come into the picture. One of the best badminton champions Japan has produced includes Kento Momota.
The Japanese player has won several badminton events including the world championships, Thomas Cup, and Asian Championships. In the recent past, Japan has doubled its interest and thus earned significant boost in her performance in the sport.
Denmark
Denmark is another famous nation and a force to reckon in badminton. In the World Badminton Championship, the nation has bagged at least ten gold and 13 silver medals.
Some of the international figures who have given Denmark fame in the sport include Thomas Lund, Marlene Thomsen, Peter Gade, Victor Axelson, and Anders Antonsen. The history of Denmark and badminton sport dates back to around 1925.
India
The list of the top badminton countries wouldn’t be complete without mentioning India. One of the badminton stars that has brought India to the limelight in badminton is PV Sidhu. Her grip on the racket produces thundering smashes. Other notable figures include Chirag Shetty and Satwik Sairaj.
United Kingdom
When you dig into the history of badminton sport, you won’t miss the United Kingdom, specifically the badminton house. At present, the sport has penetrated many colleges and schools. The notable badminton players in the UK includes Geil Emms and Nathan Robertson.
Thailand
The creation of the badminton association of Thailand in the mid-20th century boosted the sport in the Asian country. Another notable former badminton player and King of Thailand that has promoted the racket game in the country is Bhumibol Adulyadej.
After Ratchanok Intanon became a world champion in 2013 (in the women singles), Thailand has received significant fame in the sport. And in the 2021 BWF World Championships, Thailand scooped a gold medal in the mixed doubles category.
Sweden
Talk about the most famous indoor sports in Sweden and badminton tops the list. The nation has organized leagues and facilities that promote the game. For instance, the country has won gold twice in the BWF World Championship.
Conclusion
Badminton sport is most famous in the Asian continent as outlined by the list. However, the game is spreading fast to other parts of the world and attracts millions of viewers. When looking for the best indoor game, badminton is a worthy candidate.