Recent Badminton Champions: A Recap

who most recently won badminton

Badminton is a racquet sport that is played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs. The most recent winners of the National Badminton Championships in 2024 were M Raghu and Devika Sihag, who were crowned the men's and women's singles champions, respectively. In the mixed doubles category, Ayush Agarwal and Shruti Mishra bagged the crown, while Arathi Sara Sunil and Varshini VS won the women's doubles final. In 2023, Anmol Kharb, 16, won the women's singles title, and Chirag Sen won the men's singles title. In the mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto dominated and comfortably won the match.

Characteristics Values
Tournament National Badminton Championships 2024
Location Bengaluru, India
Men's Singles Champion M Raghu
Women's Singles Champion Devika Sihag
Men's Doubles Champions Sanskar Saraswat and Arsh Mohammad
Women's Doubles Champions Arathi Sara Sunil and Varshini VS
Mixed Doubles Champions Ayush Agarwal and Shruti Mishra

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P.V. Sindhu became the first Indian player to win gold at the World Championships

P.V. Sindhu is a professional badminton player from India who has achieved numerous milestones in her career. She rose to fame as one of India's most successful athletes, with her impressive performances in various tournaments.

One of her most notable achievements was becoming the first Indian player to win gold at the World Championships. In 2019, Sindhu clinched the top spot at the BWF World Championships, making history as the first Indian to achieve this feat. She dominated the final against Nozomi Okuhara of Japan, winning with a score of 21-7, 21-7 in just 38 minutes. This victory added to her impressive collection of medals, including two silvers and two bronzes from previous World Championships.

Sindhu's journey to the World Championships gold began in 2013, when she first participated in the World Championships and won a bronze medal, becoming only the second Indian medalist in the singles events. Over the years, she consistently performed well and improved her ranking, breaking into the top 20 of the BWF World Rankings in 2012 at just 17 years old. By April 2017, she had risen to a career-high ranking of No. 2 globally.

In addition to her World Championships success, Sindhu has also excelled at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games. She became the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals: a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, she added a gold medal to her collection, beating Michelle Li of Canada in the final. Sindhu's achievements have been recognised with some of the highest sporting honours and civilian awards in India, including the Padma Shri, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, and the Padma Bhushan.

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Kento Momota was the first Japanese man to win gold in the men's singles

Kento Momota is a former Japanese badminton player, born on September 1, 1994, in Mitoyo, Kagawa Prefecture, and began playing badminton in elementary school. He is known for his unpredictable and explosive playing style, which has earned him several accolades. Notably, Momota became the first Japanese men's singles player to achieve a BWF ranking of No. 1 in 2018, a position he held for 121 weeks. This remarkable achievement cemented his legacy as one of the greats of men's singles badminton.

Momota's journey to the top began in 2013 when he competed in a series of Grand Prix/Gold tournaments and Superseries (Premiers). The following year, in 2014, he won all his matches during Japan's Thomas Cup victory, playing second men's singles. He continued his winning streak by becoming the first Japanese player to win the Singapore Open in 2015. That same year, he made history again as the first Japanese player to win a medal in the men's singles event of a prestigious tournament, reaching the semi-finals before losing to Chen Long.

In 2018, Momota's hard work culminated in him becoming the first Japanese man to reach number one in the badminton world singles rankings. This achievement was a significant milestone for Japan in the sport. That year, he also won the World Championships title in Nanjing, China, defeating Shi Yuqi in the final. Additionally, he claimed four BWF World Tour titles: the Indonesia Open, Japan Open, Denmark Open, and Fuzhou China Open.

Momota's success continued as he won gold at the Asian Championships, World Badminton Championships in Nanjing, the Indonesian Open, and his home Japan Open. His dominance in these tournaments further solidified his reputation as one of the best badminton players in the world. Momota's achievements were recognised by the BWF when they awarded him the title of best male player of the year.

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Ratchanok Intanon was the youngest singles title winner at 18 years old

Ratchanok Intanon is a Thai badminton player who made history in 2013 when she became the youngest singles title winner at the World Championships at just 18 years old. She beat world number one and Olympic gold medalist Li Xuerui to claim the gold medal. This victory made her the first-ever Thai player to become a World Champion.

Intanon's road to the final saw her defeat Carolina Marín in a hard-fought quarter-final encounter. She then progressed to the semi-finals, where she comfortably beat P. V. Sindhu in two games. In the final, she faced Li Xuerui, who had dominated the sport for the previous two years. Intanon's game was exceptional, showcasing power, stamina, and precise net shots. She neutralized Li's attacks with controlled returns and maintained her composure throughout the match.

Prior to her World Championship victory, Intanon had already achieved numerous accolades. She was the youngest World Junior Champion and the youngest Superseries winner. She had also reached the finals of the All England Open and the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold, losing to Tine Rasmussen and Wang Shixian, respectively. In 2010, at just 15 years old, she successfully defended her title at the BWF World Junior Championships in Mexico, defeating Misaki Matsutomo.

Intanon's career has had its ups and downs, including injuries and a failed drug test in April 2025, which resulted in no period of ineligibility due to contaminated meat. Despite these setbacks, she has continued to compete at the highest level, winning titles such as the Indonesia Masters in 2020 and the Spain Masters in 2024. She also represented Thailand at the 2024 Paris Olympics, showcasing her enduring presence in the sport.

Ratchanok Intanon's achievements, particularly her record as the youngest singles title winner at 18, have left a lasting mark on the sport of badminton. Her victory as a teenager inspired other young players and demonstrated that age is not a barrier to success. Intanon's talent, determination, and competitive spirit have contributed to her success and helped elevate the profile of Thai badminton on the world stage.

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China has won the most gold medals in the tournament

Badminton has been a sport in the Summer Olympic Games since it was first introduced as a demonstration sport in 1972. The men's and women's singles and doubles tournaments have been held at every Summer Olympics since 1992, with the mixed doubles tournament commencing in 1996.

China has been the most successful nation in badminton at the Olympics, winning 52 medals as of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Notably, in the 2012 Summer Olympics, China became the first country to win gold medals in all five disciplines. This was also the only clean sweep in the same Games as of 2024. China's success in badminton continued in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where Huang Ya Qiong and Zheng Si Wei won the gold medal in the mixed doubles badminton final, defeating South Korea's Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun. This victory marked China's fifth gold medal in the mixed doubles event and their 50th badminton gold overall, solidifying their dominance in the sport.

China's badminton success extends beyond just the Olympic Games. Gao Ling, a Chinese badminton player, is the all-time leader for the most Olympic medals in badminton, with two golds, one silver, and one bronze. Additionally, China has achieved a podium finish in every mixed doubles badminton competition since the event's debut in 1996, showcasing their consistent excellence in the sport.

The nation's success in badminton can be attributed to various factors, including a strong grassroots system, talented athletes, and a culture that values the sport highly. China's dominance in badminton is evident, and their achievements have inspired and set a standard for badminton teams worldwide.

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Lin Dan is the most successful player in the tournament's history

China's Lin Dan is considered by many to be the greatest badminton player of all time. By the age of 28, Lin Dan had completed the "Super Grand Slam", winning all nine major badminton world titles and becoming the third player to achieve this feat. His achievements include two Olympic gold medals, five World Championship titles, and 666 career wins. Lin Dan is also the first men's singles player to retain the Olympic gold medal, winning in 2008 and defending his title in 2012.

Lin Dan's career spanned two decades, during which he competed against five different generations of Indian badminton players. His first competition was in 2001 against Pullela Gopichand, and he continued to play well into the mid-late 2010s against younger players such as Kidambi Srikanth and Lakshya Sen. Lin Dan's skill and longevity have earned him the nickname "Super Dan," a testament to his status as one of the greatest badminton players in history.

Lin Dan's success can be attributed to his unparalleled self-belief and ability to play error-free, attacking badminton at crucial moments. His heavy racket, which is custom-made, gives him more punch in his strokes compared to players who use lighter rackets. Lin Dan's playing style was initially incredibly aggressive and lightning quick, focusing on attacks. Over time, he developed a more well-rounded style, showcasing his adaptability as a player.

Despite his success, Lin Dan's recent inactivity caused his world ranking to fall. However, he made a remarkable comeback by converting a wildcard entry into his fifth World Championship title. Lin Dan's ability to remain competitive and achieve victories against younger players underscores his talent and reinforces his status as one of the most successful players in badminton history.

Frequently asked questions

M Raghu and Devika Sihag were crowned the men's and women's singles champions, respectively, at the senior National Badminton Championships 2024.

Anmol Kharb won the women's singles title, and Chirag Sen won the men's crown.

Indonesian Susi Susanti was the first player to win an Olympic badminton medal. She beat the Republic of Korea's Bang Soo-Hyun in the women's singles final.

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