Top 10 best performers in badminton in 2024

An Se Young became the first South Korean woman to win singles gold at the Olympics since 1996.

The 2024 badminton season was different in many sorts with several of the old guard retiring and new stars rising. An extra spice to the season was added with the Paris Olympics. An Se Young ruled the women’s singles division, grabbing four BWF Tour titles as well as the Olympic gold, shaking up the old power structure. China stayed strong as Shi Yuqi kept up his top form and Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan keep winning in doubles.

This year also saw many firsts—Kunlavut Vitidsarn won Thailand’s first Olympic medal in badminton, while Taiwan’s Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin successfully defended their Olympic gold, once again as an unseeded pair. The season was not without retirement too as mixed doubles star Zheng Si Wei hanged up his racket after clinching the Olympic gold and a third straight BWF World Tour Finals title.

With the year in mind and keeping the holistic perspective at play, we look at the top 10 players who impressed the most

Top 10 best performers in badminton in 2024

1. An Se Young

An Se Young took control of early 2024 by winning Malaysia, French, and Singapore Open titles. She also made her mark at Paris Olympics, becoming the first South Korean woman to bag a singles gold since 1996. The 22-year-old also reached the Indonesia Open final, keeping up her strong showing in Super 750 and 1000 events.

Her hard-hitting play and quick moves on court led to big wins against Chinese opponents. At 22, she became the new star of Korean badminton after winning the 2023 World Championship.

2. Shi Yuqi

China’s Comeback Kid, Shi Yuqi, grabbed the world #1 spot in June after four title wins, including the Indonesia Open Super 1000. Shi Yuqi showed he was back in top form with five finals in six tournaments. In February, he ended a 14-month dry spell by winning the India Open and then followed up with a French Open title.

The 28-year-old also was key in China winning the Thomas Cup with a perfect record. His loss to Vitidsarn in the Paris Olympics quarterfinals was a rare slip-up.

Also Read: Top 10 badminton players who retired in 2024

3. Anders Antonsen

Denmark’s Anders Antonsen kicked off 2024 by winning his first Super 1000 title at the Malaysia Open. A coaching dispute with Joachim Persson led to changes halfway through the season. From October, he adjusted well under his brother Kasper’s leadership. He often made it to the final rounds of several major tournaments. Along with Viktor Axelsen, Axelsen has kept Denmark at the top in Europe.

4. Kunlavut Vitidsarn

Thai athlete, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, broke new ground as Thailand’s first Olympic badminton medal winner, having secured silver in Paris. He defeated world no #1 Shi Yuqi in the quarterfinals at Paris.

Vitidsarn’s run to the French Open finals proved he can compete at the Super 750 level. People know him for his great defense and ability to cover the court. The 23-year-old built on what he achieved in 2023 by getting better at attacking. His big wins against top 10 players show he’s now a star on the rise.

5. Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong

The mixed doubles duo won gold at Paris Olympics without dropping a game. They also claimed titles at the Indonesia Masters, All England and Singapore Open. The pair had a tough start to the season at the Malaysia Open due to illness. Zheng/Huang also reached the Indonesia Open finals which they lost to compatriots Jiang/Wei.

Zheng’s decision to stop playing after the Olympics ended this amazing partnership. Before Zheng Siwei retired, this pair won five titles in eight tournaments.

6. Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan

Women’s doubles pair Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan clinched the Olympic gold at Paris in an all-Chinese showdown against Liu/Tan. The duo built on their 2023 success, where they had won their fourth World Championships title. In 2024, Chen/Jia won the French Open and Singapore Open titles on Tour while also finishing as the runners-up in Indonesia. Their biggest achievement though was upgrading their Tokyo silver to gold at Paris.

Also Read: Why 2024 was a year of disappointment for Indian badminton

7. Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning

Another fellow women’s doubles pair from China, Liu/Tan bagged the number one ranking in October as evident in their consistent performances. They achieved their first major championship medal by winning silver medal at the Paris Olympics while the duo also secured bronze at the Asian Championships—showing their speedy growth rate.

Touted as the next generation of doubles specialists in China, the pair boasted a 75% success rate against top 10 pairs in 2024.

8. Wang Zhiyi

2024 was a breakthrough year for the Wang Zhiyi. Ranked World No. #2 currently, she grabbed a first Super 1000 title at the China and followed it with a second gold at the Asian Championships, cementing regional dominance. The 24-year-old was also Instrumental in China’s 2024 Uber Cup victory.

9. Gregoria Mariska Tunjung

In 2024, Gregoria Mariska Tunjung continued with her rising stature as Indonesia’s premier women’s singles shuttler. She led her nation to their first Uber Cup final since 2008 and clinched a historic bronze medal at Paris Olympics. Gregoria also incrementally adjusted her playing style to neutralize her bigger opponents, improving her head-to-head standing against top five players.

Also Read: Top five Indian badminton players who emerged in 2024

10. Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin

Chinese Taipei pair Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin became the first pair to defend their Olympic gold as unseeded in the Summer Games. Although yet to reach No. #1, the pair have shown immense tactical flexibility in decisive moments. With on-court chemistry, they have also excelled under pressure.

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