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Badminton · Level 9: Master · Sub-level 9.4

Asia and the Modern Game

10 tests · 100 facts · updated 29 October 2026 · markdown

Asian nations have shaped modern badminton since Malaya, now part of Malaysia, won the first three Thomas Cups from 1949. Indonesia took over in 1958 and built a golden age around Rudy Hartono and later Liem Swie King. The sport, called bulutangkis in Indonesian, also gave the country its first Olympic golds: Susi Susanti and Alan Budikusuma won the singles at Barcelona 1992 and later married.

China played outside the IBF until the world bodies united in 1981, won its first Thomas Cup a year later and has won the Sudirman Cup more than anyone. Korea built a doubles school, with players such as Park Joo-bong and Kim Dong-moon and Sudirman Cup titles in 1992, 2003 and 2017. Malaysia's Sidek brothers won the country's first Olympic medal, a men's doubles bronze in 1992, and lent their name to a spin serve that was banned. Japan won its first Olympic gold in women's doubles at Rio 2016, and Kento Momota was world champion in 2018 and 2019. India rose with Prakash Padukone, Saina Nehwal's 2012 Olympic bronze, P. V. Sindhu's 2019 world title and the 2022 Thomas Cup. Thailand and Chinese Taipei have recently won world and Olympic titles, while Denmark leads Europe.

The facts below follow each nation's milestones, players and titles.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1Malaya's early leadTake a test

  1. Three titles in a row from 1949.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  2. Malaya became part of Malaysia in 1963.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  3. Asia's arrival.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  4. Indonesia's first win.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  5. 2008, 2012, 2016.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  6. Malaya's early dominance.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

  7. Mass popularity.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  8. 1949, 1958, 1982.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  9. 1950s, 1980s-90s, 2000s-10s.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  10. 1949, 1952, 1955.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

Test 2Indonesia's golden ageTake a test

  1. Eight All England titles.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  2. All England champion around 1980.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  3. A national passion.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  4. Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  5. Bulutangkis.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  6. Indonesian name.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

  7. The Sudirman Cup.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  8. 1960s-70s, around 1980, 2000s.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  9. 1958, 1989, 1992.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  10. Indonesian name.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

Test 3China joins the world bodyTake a test

  1. After the IBF and WBF united.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  2. Soon after joining.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  3. A new power.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  4. China leads the Sudirman Cup.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  5. Political disputes.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  6. The split.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

  7. The WBF.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  8. 1978, 1981, 1982, 1996.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  9. 1982, 1984, 1995.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  10. China.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

Test 4Korea's doubles schoolTake a test

  1. A doubles legend.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  2. Tradition.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  3. Men's and women's doubles.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  4. Korea's first title.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  5. Seoul 1988.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  6. Korean doubles.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

  7. 1996 and 2004.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  8. 1988, 1992, 1996.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  9. 1992, 2003, 2017.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  10. Korean doubles school.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

Test 5The Sidek brothersTake a test

  1. Malaysian.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  2. Men's doubles bronze.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  3. A first for Malaysia.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  4. Hit across the feathers.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  5. The IBF banned it.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  6. Unfair advantage.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  7. Hit by spinning the shuttle before contact.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  8. 1949, 1992, 2008.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  9. 1982, 1992, 2023.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  10. The spin serve.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

Test 6Indonesia's first Olympic goldTake a test

  1. Barcelona 1992.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  2. Men's singles.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  3. Golden couple.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  4. Barcelona.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  5. National pride.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · applied

  6. Both singles champions.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · applied

  7. Two singles golds.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  8. 1992, 1996, 2016.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  9. 1958, 1989, 1992.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  10. Indonesia's first.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · applied

Test 7Japan's riseTake a test

  1. Women's doubles in Rio.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  2. Momota.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  3. Uber Cup titles 1966-1981.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  4. System and clubs.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  5. Japan's sixth title.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  6. Back-to-back titles.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

  7. Both won.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  8. 1966, 2016, 2018.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  9. 2017, 2018, 2021.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  10. Momota.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

Test 8India's riseTake a test

  1. Padukone.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  2. Bronze in 2012.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  3. Basel 2019.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  4. In Bangkok.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  5. India's star pair.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  6. Stars and academies.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

  7. The Gopichand academy.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  8. 1980, 2012, 2019, 2022.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  9. 1980, 2001, 2020s.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  10. Nehwal's bronze.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · applied

Test 9Thailand and Chinese TaipeiTake a test

  1. Guangzhou 2013.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  2. Men's doubles.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  3. Silver in Tokyo.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  4. Huelva 2021.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  5. Recent success.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

  6. Copenhagen 2023.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

  7. Chinese Taipei.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  8. 2013, 2021, 2023.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  9. 2013, 2021, 2022.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  10. A first.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

Test 10Europe's answerTake a test

  1. Denmark.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  2. Morten Frost.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  3. Rio 2016.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  4. Denmark beat Indonesia.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  5. Club culture.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  6. Athens 2004.

    Source: Olympedia, Olympic badminton results · recall

  7. Asia dominates.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

  8. 1996, 2004, 2016.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  9. 1980s, 1990s, 2010s-20s.

    Source: General badminton reference · recall

  10. Denmark.

    Source: General badminton reference · applied

Questions people ask

Why is badminton so popular in Asia?
It needs little space and simple equipment, which helped it grow fast across Asia in the 20th century. It became hugely popular there, and Asian teams overtook Europe's best.
What is badminton called in Indonesia?
Bulutangkis. The national association is known as PBSI, short for Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia.
What was the Sidek serve?
A spin serve associated with Malaysia's Sidek brothers, hit across the feathers so the shuttle wobbled and was almost unreturnable. The IBF banned it as an unfair advantage.
Who won Indonesia's first Olympic gold?
Susi Susanti won the women's singles at Barcelona 1992, Indonesia's first Olympic gold in any sport, and Alan Budikusuma won the men's singles. The pair later married.
When did China join world badminton?
China joined the international federation in 1981, after the IBF and the rival WBF, which China had led, united. It won its first Thomas Cup in 1982.
Why is Korea known for doubles?
Korea has a coaching tradition built around doubles, known for steady defence and teamwork. Its first Olympic badminton golds came in men's and women's doubles at Barcelona 1992, and Kim Dong-moon won gold in mixed doubles in 1996 and men's doubles in 2004.
Who are India's most important badminton players?
Prakash Padukone won the All England in 1980, Saina Nehwal won India's first Olympic badminton medal with bronze in 2012, and P. V. Sindhu became world champion in Basel in 2019. Many Indian stars are linked to the Gopichand academy in Hyderabad.
Which European country is strongest at badminton?
Denmark, thanks to strong clubs and a long tradition; Morten Frost won the All England four times in the 1980s, and Denmark won the Thomas Cup in 2016. Spain's Carolina Marín won Olympic women's singles gold at Rio 2016.

Sources

BWF Coaches' Manual Level 1 (2017), BWF regulations and history, Olympedia; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category (Badminton - Laws of Badminton).

  • General badminton reference79
  • Olympedia, Olympic badminton results21