Amanda Knapp
As of 27 January 2025, the men's and women's badminton world number ones are Shi Yuqi and An Seyoung, respectively. Shi Yuqi rose to the top of the BWF World Singles World Rankings after consecutive tournament wins at the Singapore Open and Indonesia Open. Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, who held the top spot for 132 weeks, withdrew from the Indonesia Open due to injury and lost his number-one ranking.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Men's Badminton World Number 1 | Shi Yuqi |
| Previous Men's World Number 1 | Viktor Axelsen |
| Women's Badminton World Number 1 | An Seyoung |
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What You'll Learn
Viktor Axelsen: former men's world number one
Viktor Axelsen is a Danish badminton player who was born on 4 January 1994 in Odense to Henrik Axelsen and Gitte Lundager. Axelsen's father introduced him to the sport at the age of six, playing at the Odense badminton club. Axelsen's achievements began when he won the National junior event in the boys' singles and doubles in his age group in 2006 and 2008. He then went on to win the 2009 German Junior and the European U17 Championships. He made his debut in a senior international tournament at the 2009 Denmark Open, playing in the men's doubles event with Steffen Rasmussen. In 2010, Axelsen reached the finals at the Swedish International tournament, finishing as the runner-up. The same year, he competed at the World Junior Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico, and claimed the boys' singles title.
Axelsen has held the No. 1 BWF World Ranking in men's singles for a total of 183 weeks, making it the third-longest reign in badminton history. He is a two-time Olympic Champion, having won gold medals in men's singles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2024 Paris Olympics, and a two-time World Champion, having won the World Championships in 2017 and 2022. He is also a four-time European Champion, having won the European Mixed Team Championships in 2016, 2018, and 2022, and the European Men's Team Championships in 2023. Known for his powerful smashes and solid defence, he is considered one of the greatest badminton players of all time.
In addition to his international success, Axelsen has also led the Denmark team to victory in all European Mixed Team Championships since 2015 and all European Men's Team Championships since 2012. On an individual level, he has won three European Championships titles and a gold medal at the European Games in 2023. He also won the 2010 World Junior Championships, becoming the only non-Asian singles player to win the title. Axelsen is the recipient of the BWF Male Player of the Year award, having won it three times since 2020.
Axelsen is married to Natalia Koch Rohde, and they have two daughters, Vega and Aya Rohde Axelsen, born in 2020 and 2022, respectively. Axelsen's father-in-law, Henrik Rohde, is also his coach.
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Shi Yuqi: current men's world number one
Shi Yuqi is a Chinese badminton player who is currently the world number one in men's singles. He was born on 28 February 1996 and has been playing badminton competitively for several years.
Shi Yuqi's first major victory came in 2016 when he won his first Superseries title at the French Open. He continued his success by reaching the final of the All England Open in 2017, where he defeated the six-time champion Lin Dan. He repeated this feat in 2018, defeating Lin Dan again in the final. Shi Yuqi has also led his country to victory in multiple team events, including the Sudirman Cup in 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025, the Thomas Cup in 2018 and 2024, and the Asian Games men's team event in 2018 and 2022.
In 2018, Shi Yuqi had one of his best seasons, winning a bronze medal in the Asia Mixed Team Championships and reaching the finals of the All England Open and the Swiss Open. He also competed in the Asian Championships, taking home another bronze medal. Shi Yuqi participated in his first World Championships that year but was knocked out in the third round. Despite some setbacks, his consistent performance and form propelled him to the world number one ranking in June 2024.
However, Shi Yuqi's career has also had its challenges. In 2022, he was suspended from the Chinese national team and barred from playing in international tournaments for a year due to an incident at the 2020 Thomas Cup competition and his immature comments afterward. Despite this, he returned to action at the 2022 BWF World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, demonstrating his resilience and determination to remain a top player in the sport.
Shi Yuqi has showcased his talent and dedication to badminton, rising to become the current world number one. With his improved stamina and consistent performance, he has established himself as a dominant force in the sport, and his future in badminton looks bright.
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Momota Kento: former men's world number one
Kento Momota is a former badminton world number one. He first showed promise when he won the All Japan Elementary School Championship while in sixth grade. He then went on to win the All Japan Junior High School Championship during his third year of junior high school. After graduating, Momota studied at Tomioka High School in Fukushima Prefecture.
Momota joined the Japanese national team and participated in the 2012 Asian Junior Championships in Gimcheon, South Korea, where he became the Asian Junior Champion. In the same year, he also won the World Junior Championships held in Chiba, Japan, beating China's Xue Song in the final round.
Momota was recruited by the badminton club of the largest telecommunications company in Japan, NTT East, in April 2013. As a member of the club, he also worked at the company, learning valuable time management skills. He competed in several International Challenge tournaments in Europe in 2013, emerging as the champion in Estonia, Sweden, and Austria.
Momota continued his winning streak in 2014, winning all his matches during Japan's Thomas Cup victory. He played second men's singles behind Kenichi Tago. Momota has cited Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei as his idols while growing up and during his training.
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BWF World Ranking points system
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Ranking is the official ranking of badminton players who participate in tournaments sanctioned by the BWF. The ranking points are awarded based on the level and progress of the tournament from each player or pair. The points are calculated based on the tournaments each player or pair participates in from the last 52 weeks. If a player or pair has participated in ten or fewer World Ranking tournaments, the ranking is worked out by adding together the points won at tournaments in the last 52 weeks.
All BWF-sanctioned tournaments are divided into a grading system. Players get ranking points depending on the grade of the tournament. The level of a tournament is determined by the total prize money of the tournament. The World Tour is divided into six levels. The first five levels belong to the HSBC BWF World Tour, and the sixth level is the BWF Tour.
- 3rd place: 10,100 points
- 4th place: 9,200 points
Another example is the World Tour Finals' group stage:
- 3rd place: 7,500 points
- 4th place: 6,600 points
The BWF World Ranking is used to determine qualification for the World Championships, Summer Olympic Games, and BWF World Tour tournaments. The seedings of draws at all BWF-sanctioned tournaments are conducted using the BWF World Ranking.
Players under 19 years of age are eligible to rank in the BWF World Junior Ranking, introduced in January 2011.
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Qualification for tournaments
BWF World Tour Finals:
The BWF World Tour Finals is an exclusive tournament that brings together the top players and pairs in the sport. The qualification process is rigorous and comprehensive. Here are the key criteria:
- Rankings: The primary pathway to qualification is through the BWF World Tour rankings. The top eight players or pairs in each category secure their places in the finals.
- Quota Restrictions: To maintain competitive balance, there is a restriction of no more than two players or pairs from the same nation in each category.
- Tournament Levels: Players accumulate points based on their performances in tournaments throughout the season. Higher-level tournaments, such as Super 1000 and Super 750 events, offer more ranking points.
- Calculation Method: Players can count their best 14 tournament results towards their ranking total. However, only three results from Super 100 tournaments can be included.
- Health and Physical Condition: Participants must be in good health and peak physical condition to handle the demands of elite-level badminton.
- Language Proficiency: Players are expected to be proficient in English for effective communication and a seamless tournament experience.
Olympic Games:
The qualification process for badminton at the Olympic Games, like the 2024 Paris Olympics, is intricate and involves various criteria:
- Ranking Period: The qualification period for the Paris 2024 Olympics spanned from May 1, 2023, to April 28, 2024. The results during this period were considered for the \"Race to Paris\" ranking lists.
- Quota Places: A total of 172 quota places are awarded for badminton competitions, with 86 each for men and women. These are allocated to National Olympic Committees (NOCs).
- Singles and Doubles Events: NOCs can enter a maximum of two players each in the men's and women's singles if they are ranked within the top 16 of the "Race to Paris" ranking list. For doubles, similar protocols apply, with a maximum of two pairs if ranked in the top eight.
- Continental Representation: Each of the five continental zones must be represented in the singles and doubles tournaments. If a zone is unsatisfied with the entry selection, the highest-ranked eligible player or pair from that zone qualifies.
- Host Nation Spots: The host nation reserves spots in the men's and women's singles for its highest-ranked players based on the "Race to Paris" ranking list.
These qualification processes ensure that only the most deserving and competitive athletes earn their spots in prestigious badminton tournaments. The criteria are designed to promote excellence, fairness, and global representation in the sport.
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Frequently asked questions
As of May 2025, the men's and women's world number ones in badminton are Shi Yuqi and An Seyoung, respectively.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) calculates rankings based on players' performance in sanctioned tournaments over the last 52 weeks. The number of points awarded depends on the level and progression of the tournament.
It is unclear how frequently the rankings are updated, but they are based on results from the previous 52 weeks.
A high ranking can lead to qualification for prestigious tournaments such as the World Championships, Summer Olympic Games, and BWF World Tour tournaments.
The BWF World Ranking is for players who are 19 years of age or older, while the BWF World Junior Ranking is for players under 19 years of age.
