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Badminton · Interesting Facts

Chapter 2: Records & Statistics

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

Badminton's record book runs from long rallies and endurance matches to title counts at the All England and weeks spent at the top of the world rankings. The longest rallies on record grew from 154 strokes at the 2010 Swiss Open in Basel to 195 in Korea and 211 in Kuala Lumpur a year after that, though rallies on outside courts are not counted, so nobody can be sure. A mass rally for 157 players was set by Badminton Scotland, passing a mark of 129 set in Japan earlier that month.

Sir George Thomas won 21 All England titles: four singles, nine men's doubles and eight mixed doubles, a total the museum notes has never been passed. He also played at Wimbledon from 1906 to 1926 and beat Capablanca and Botvinnik in successive rounds at Hastings in 1935. In the rankings, Lee Chong Wei spent 349 weeks at number one, with one spell running from 21 August 2008 to 14 June 2012, while Kento Momota won eleven titles in 2019. Danish players won their first All England titles in 1939, and Malaysians took over after the war.

The facts below cover marathons and mass rallies, the longest rallies, Sir George Thomas, the youngest and oldest champions, All England title counts, weeks at number one, record years, the Danish era, the last English winners and the BWF Hall of Fame.

2.21Marathons and Mass Rallies

Day-long singles, a night of doubles in Florida and a rally for 157 players.

Test 1Marathons and mass ralliesTake a test

  1. Bartlomiej Szczerba and Janusz Stachon-Gol played it to raise the sport's profile at home.

    Source: Guinness World Records: longest marathon playing badminton (singles, 2019; doubles, 2014), most participants in a badminton rally (2025), largest badminton championships (2016) · recall

  2. It lies at the foot of the Tatra mountains.

    Source: Guinness World Records: longest marathon playing badminton (singles, 2019; doubles, 2014), most participants in a badminton rally (2025), largest badminton championships (2016) · recall

  3. Janusz Stachon-Gol won the final match.

    Source: Guinness World Records: longest marathon playing badminton (singles, 2019; doubles, 2014), most participants in a badminton rally (2025), largest badminton championships (2016) · recall

  4. Two players from the UK and two from Hungary, all living in Florida, set it.

    Source: Guinness World Records: longest marathon playing badminton (singles, 2019; doubles, 2014), most participants in a badminton rally (2025), largest badminton championships (2016) · recall

  5. Badminton Scotland set it; the mark earlier that month was 129, set in Japan.

    Source: Guinness World Records: longest marathon playing badminton (singles, 2019; doubles, 2014), most participants in a badminton rally (2025), largest badminton championships (2016) · recall

  6. Fans from China and abroad played; Olympic champion Fu Haifeng entered one event.

    Source: Guinness World Records: longest marathon playing badminton (singles, 2019; doubles, 2014), most participants in a badminton rally (2025), largest badminton championships (2016) · recall

  7. It was held in Lingshui, Hainan, from 28 October to 6 November 2016.

    Source: Guinness World Records: longest marathon playing badminton (singles, 2019; doubles, 2014), most participants in a badminton rally (2025), largest badminton championships (2016) · recall

  8. 2014, 2016, 2019, 2025.

    Source: Guinness World Records: longest marathon playing badminton (singles, 2019; doubles, 2014), most participants in a badminton rally (2025), largest badminton championships (2016) · recall

  9. 106, 157 and 4,315.

    Source: Guinness World Records: longest marathon playing badminton (singles, 2019; doubles, 2014), most participants in a badminton rally (2025), largest badminton championships (2016) · recall

  10. Guinness lists it as the longest doubles marathon.

    Source: Guinness World Records: longest marathon playing badminton (singles, 2019; doubles, 2014), most participants in a badminton rally (2025), largest badminton championships (2016) · applied

2.22The Longest Rallies

154 strokes in Basel, 195 in Korea and 211 in Kuala Lumpur.

Test 1The longest ralliesTake a test

  1. It came at the 2010 Swiss Open in Basel.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest badminton rally in competition' (2010); CNN, Malay Mail and Free Malaysia Today reports on the 211-shot rally at the 2023 Malaysia Masters · recall

  2. It was a second-round women's doubles match on 18 March 2010.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest badminton rally in competition' (2010); CNN, Malay Mail and Free Malaysia Today reports on the 211-shot rally at the 2023 Malaysia Masters · recall

  3. She partnered Anastasia Russkikh of Russia.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest badminton rally in competition' (2010); CNN, Malay Mail and Free Malaysia Today reports on the 211-shot rally at the 2023 Malaysia Masters · recall

  4. The Bulgarian-Russian pair won the point and the match 23-21, 17-21, 21-19.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest badminton rally in competition' (2010); CNN, Malay Mail and Free Malaysia Today reports on the 211-shot rally at the 2023 Malaysia Masters · recall

  5. They beat Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto of Japan.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest badminton rally in competition' (2010); CNN, Malay Mail and Free Malaysia Today reports on the 211-shot rally at the 2023 Malaysia Masters · recall

  6. Rallies on outside courts are not counted, so nobody can be sure.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest badminton rally in competition' (2010); CNN, Malay Mail and Free Malaysia Today reports on the 211-shot rally at the 2023 Malaysia Masters · recall

  7. The 211-shot rally passed it a year later.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest badminton rally in competition' (2010); CNN, Malay Mail and Free Malaysia Today reports on the 211-shot rally at the 2023 Malaysia Masters · recall

  8. 154, 195, 211.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest badminton rally in competition' (2010); CNN, Malay Mail and Free Malaysia Today reports on the 211-shot rally at the 2023 Malaysia Masters · recall

  9. 2010, 2022, 2023.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest badminton rally in competition' (2010); CNN, Malay Mail and Free Malaysia Today reports on the 211-shot rally at the 2023 Malaysia Masters · recall

  10. The Malaysian pair led 16-14 in the third game when it began.

    Source: Guinness World Records, 'Longest badminton rally in competition' (2010); CNN, Malay Mail and Free Malaysia Today reports on the 211-shot rally at the 2023 Malaysia Masters · applied

2.23Sir George Thomas

21 All England titles, chess, tennis and the cup that bears his name.

Test 1Sir George ThomasTake a test

  1. Four singles, nine men's doubles and eight mixed doubles.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'Sir George Thomas - A Legend as a Player, Administrator and Gentleman' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  2. He inherited a baronetcy in 1918.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'Sir George Thomas - A Legend as a Player, Administrator and Gentleman' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  3. At Hastings in 1935 he beat Capablanca and Botvinnik in successive rounds.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'Sir George Thomas - A Legend as a Player, Administrator and Gentleman' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  4. He also won the 1906 mixed with her.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'Sir George Thomas - A Legend as a Player, Administrator and Gentleman' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  5. He played at Wimbledon from 1906 to 1926.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'Sir George Thomas - A Legend as a Player, Administrator and Gentleman' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  6. He never missed a meeting and rewrote the laws.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'Sir George Thomas - A Legend as a Player, Administrator and Gentleman' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  7. He also wrote 'The Art of Badminton'.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'Sir George Thomas - A Legend as a Player, Administrator and Gentleman' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  8. Four, eight and nine.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'Sir George Thomas - A Legend as a Player, Administrator and Gentleman' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  9. 1903, 1923, 1939, 1972.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'Sir George Thomas - A Legend as a Player, Administrator and Gentleman' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  10. He beat Capablanca and Botvinnik in successive rounds.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'Sir George Thomas - A Legend as a Player, Administrator and Gentleman' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · applied

2.24Youngest and Oldest Champions

An 18-year-old on his first try, a 33-year-old final and a title at 47.

Test 1Youngest and oldest championsTake a test

  1. It was his first appearance at the championships.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships'; Bangkok Post, '33 beats 18 - Baun over Ratchanok' (2013); Arab News (2013); Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' · recall

  2. The Malaysian had won the title in 1966.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships'; Bangkok Post, '33 beats 18 - Baun over Ratchanok' (2013); Arab News (2013); Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' · recall

  3. She retired from top-level play after that win.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships'; Bangkok Post, '33 beats 18 - Baun over Ratchanok' (2013); Arab News (2013); Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' · recall

  4. She met Tine Baun in the 2013 All England final.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships'; Bangkok Post, '33 beats 18 - Baun over Ratchanok' (2013); Arab News (2013); Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' · recall

  5. He won it with Frank Hodge.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships'; Bangkok Post, '33 beats 18 - Baun over Ratchanok' (2013); Arab News (2013); Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' · recall

  6. At Wimbledon she handed the singles trophy to Martina Navratilova.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships'; Bangkok Post, '33 beats 18 - Baun over Ratchanok' (2013); Arab News (2013); Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' · recall

  7. He was the first Malaysian men's singles winner since Lee Chong Wei.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships'; Bangkok Post, '33 beats 18 - Baun over Ratchanok' (2013); Arab News (2013); Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' · recall

  8. 18, 22, 33, 47.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships'; Bangkok Post, '33 beats 18 - Baun over Ratchanok' (2013); Arab News (2013); Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' · recall

  9. 2009, March 2013, August 2013.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships'; Bangkok Post, '33 beats 18 - Baun over Ratchanok' (2013); Arab News (2013); Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' · recall

  10. Newspapers headlined it '33 beats 18'.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships'; Bangkok Post, '33 beats 18 - Baun over Ratchanok' (2013); Arab News (2013); Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' · applied

2.25All England Title Counts

Who won the most titles, and who won all three in one year.

Test 1All England title countsTake a test

  1. The Irishman also won the triple three times.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  2. In 1926, 1927 and 1929.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  3. The museum notes it has never been passed.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  4. Most came in men's doubles and mixed doubles.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  5. She also played 37 times for England between 1926 and 1951.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  6. Singles, doubles and mixed all fell to her that year.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  7. Seven of them were in men's singles.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  8. 21, 18, 15, 13.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  9. 1926, 1948, 1976.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  10. She took singles, doubles and mixed.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · applied

2.26Weeks at Number One

Lee Chong Wei's 349 weeks, Tai Tzu-ying's record and Japan's first male number one.

Test 1Weeks at number oneTake a test

  1. The BWF noted the record when he entered its Hall of Fame in 2023.

    Source: BWF Hall of Fame announcement for Lee Chong Wei (2023); Badminton Association of Malaysia, 'Career milestones'; Reuters (28 September 2018); Badminton Planet ranking reports (2019-2022); Taiwan News (2025) · recall

  2. It lasted until 14 June 2012.

    Source: BWF Hall of Fame announcement for Lee Chong Wei (2023); Badminton Association of Malaysia, 'Career milestones'; Reuters (28 September 2018); Badminton Planet ranking reports (2019-2022); Taiwan News (2025) · recall

  3. She retired in November 2025.

    Source: BWF Hall of Fame announcement for Lee Chong Wei (2023); Badminton Association of Malaysia, 'Career milestones'; Reuters (28 September 2018); Badminton Planet ranking reports (2019-2022); Taiwan News (2025) · recall

  4. Tai then had 137 weeks over two spells.

    Source: BWF Hall of Fame announcement for Lee Chong Wei (2023); Badminton Association of Malaysia, 'Career milestones'; Reuters (28 September 2018); Badminton Planet ranking reports (2019-2022); Taiwan News (2025) · recall

  5. Axelsen took the top spot back in 2021.

    Source: BWF Hall of Fame announcement for Lee Chong Wei (2023); Badminton Association of Malaysia, 'Career milestones'; Reuters (28 September 2018); Badminton Planet ranking reports (2019-2022); Taiwan News (2025) · recall

  6. He was the first Japanese man to reach number one in singles or doubles.

    Source: BWF Hall of Fame announcement for Lee Chong Wei (2023); Badminton Association of Malaysia, 'Career milestones'; Reuters (28 September 2018); Badminton Planet ranking reports (2019-2022); Taiwan News (2025) · recall

  7. She retired on 7 November 2025.

    Source: BWF Hall of Fame announcement for Lee Chong Wei (2023); Badminton Association of Malaysia, 'Career milestones'; Reuters (28 September 2018); Badminton Planet ranking reports (2019-2022); Taiwan News (2025) · recall

  8. 349, 214, 124 and 121.

    Source: BWF Hall of Fame announcement for Lee Chong Wei (2023); Badminton Association of Malaysia, 'Career milestones'; Reuters (28 September 2018); Badminton Planet ranking reports (2019-2022); Taiwan News (2025) · recall

  9. 2008, 2018, 2021.

    Source: BWF Hall of Fame announcement for Lee Chong Wei (2023); Badminton Association of Malaysia, 'Career milestones'; Reuters (28 September 2018); Badminton Planet ranking reports (2019-2022); Taiwan News (2025) · recall

  10. It ran from 21 August 2008 to 14 June 2012.

    Source: BWF Hall of Fame announcement for Lee Chong Wei (2023); Badminton Association of Malaysia, 'Career milestones'; Reuters (28 September 2018); Badminton Planet ranking reports (2019-2022); Taiwan News (2025) · applied

2.27Record Years and a Super Grand Slam

Momota's eleven titles in 2019 and Lin Dan's nine-title set.

Test 1Record years and a Super Grand SlamTake a test

  1. Guinness World Records recognised the mark.

    Source: BWF, 'Momota captures HSBC BWF World Tour Finals to make it 11 titles in 2019' (corporate.bwfbadminton.com); Guinness World Records, most men's singles titles in a season; The Daily Star, 'Lin lifts first Super Grand Slam' (2011) · recall

  2. Momota passed it with eleven in 2019.

    Source: BWF, 'Momota captures HSBC BWF World Tour Finals to make it 11 titles in 2019' (corporate.bwfbadminton.com); Guinness World Records, most men's singles titles in a season; The Daily Star, 'Lin lifts first Super Grand Slam' (2011) · recall

  3. He beat Anthony Ginting 17-21, 21-17, 21-14 after trailing 12-5 in the decider.

    Source: BWF, 'Momota captures HSBC BWF World Tour Finals to make it 11 titles in 2019' (corporate.bwfbadminton.com); Guinness World Records, most men's singles titles in a season; The Daily Star, 'Lin lifts first Super Grand Slam' (2011) · recall

  4. He was 28.

    Source: BWF, 'Momota captures HSBC BWF World Tour Finals to make it 11 titles in 2019' (corporate.bwfbadminton.com); Guinness World Records, most men's singles titles in a season; The Daily Star, 'Lin lifts first Super Grand Slam' (2011) · recall

  5. He beat Chen Long 21-12, 21-16 in the final.

    Source: BWF, 'Momota captures HSBC BWF World Tour Finals to make it 11 titles in 2019' (corporate.bwfbadminton.com); Guinness World Records, most men's singles titles in a season; The Daily Star, 'Lin lifts first Super Grand Slam' (2011) · recall

  6. China does not play the Commonwealth Games.

    Source: BWF, 'Momota captures HSBC BWF World Tour Finals to make it 11 titles in 2019' (corporate.bwfbadminton.com); Guinness World Records, most men's singles titles in a season; The Daily Star, 'Lin lifts first Super Grand Slam' (2011) · recall

  7. The rest are individual titles.

    Source: BWF, 'Momota captures HSBC BWF World Tour Finals to make it 11 titles in 2019' (corporate.bwfbadminton.com); Guinness World Records, most men's singles titles in a season; The Daily Star, 'Lin lifts first Super Grand Slam' (2011) · recall

  8. 2010, 2011, 2019.

    Source: BWF, 'Momota captures HSBC BWF World Tour Finals to make it 11 titles in 2019' (corporate.bwfbadminton.com); Guinness World Records, most men's singles titles in a season; The Daily Star, 'Lin lifts first Super Grand Slam' (2011) · recall

  9. 17-21, 21-17, then 21-14 from 5-12 down.

    Source: BWF, 'Momota captures HSBC BWF World Tour Finals to make it 11 titles in 2019' (corporate.bwfbadminton.com); Guinness World Records, most men's singles titles in a season; The Daily Star, 'Lin lifts first Super Grand Slam' (2011) · recall

  10. Olympics, worlds, World Cup, Thomas Cup, Sudirman Cup, Masters Finals, All England, Asian Games and Asian Championships.

    Source: BWF, 'Momota captures HSBC BWF World Tour Finals to make it 11 titles in 2019' (corporate.bwfbadminton.com); Guinness World Records, most men's singles titles in a season; The Daily Star, 'Lin lifts first Super Grand Slam' (2011) · applied

2.28The Danish Era

A Danish wave from 1938 and the champions it brought.

Test 1The Danish era at the All EnglandTake a test

  1. Danish players won their first titles the next year.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall

  2. Tage Madsen won the men's singles the same year.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall

  3. Hartono passed it with his eighth in 1976.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall

  4. Most were in doubles events.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall

  5. The championships had only restarted after the war in 1947.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall

  6. Malayan men went on to lead the men's events through the 1950s.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall

  7. He was the first Dane to win the men's singles.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall

  8. 1938, 1939, 1948, 1955.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall

  9. One, seven, eight.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall

  10. From 1939 Danish players won titles, and Malaysians after the war.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · applied

2.29Last English Winners

The last English champions in each event, and the 2021 firsts.

Test 1Last English winnersTake a test

  1. He and his brother Lesley also won the men's doubles that year.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  2. No English pair has won the men's doubles since.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  3. She won eleven All England titles in all.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  4. Archer and Goode had won the mixed in the centenary year, 1999.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  5. Robertson and Emms won it six years later.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  6. He also won four men's doubles and a mixed title.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  7. He won the men's doubles and the mixed doubles.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  8. 1938, 1978, 1999, 2005.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  9. 1933, 1935, 1938.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · recall

  10. The Nichols brothers were the last.

    Source: Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020) · applied

2.30The Hall of Fame

The BWF's Hall of Fame since 1997: who gets in, and when.

Test 1The BWF Hall of FameTake a test

  1. It honours players and administrators who lifted the sport.

    Source: BWF news releases on Hall of Fame inductions (2019, 2021, 2023, 2026); Badminton Asia, 'BWF announce Hall of Fame inductees 2021' · recall

  2. The committee may consider active players in special cases.

    Source: BWF news releases on Hall of Fame inductions (2019, 2021, 2023, 2026); Badminton Asia, 'BWF announce Hall of Fame inductees 2021' · recall

  3. The pandemic moved the ceremony online.

    Source: BWF news releases on Hall of Fame inductions (2019, 2021, 2023, 2026); Badminton Asia, 'BWF announce Hall of Fame inductees 2021' · recall

  4. She joined eight Korean compatriots already in the Hall of Fame.

    Source: BWF news releases on Hall of Fame inductions (2019, 2021, 2023, 2026); Badminton Asia, 'BWF announce Hall of Fame inductees 2021' · recall

  5. The ceremony took place in Kuala Lumpur.

    Source: BWF news releases on Hall of Fame inductions (2019, 2021, 2023, 2026); Badminton Asia, 'BWF announce Hall of Fame inductees 2021' · recall

  6. He was inducted at the BWF annual meeting in April 2026.

    Source: BWF news releases on Hall of Fame inductions (2019, 2021, 2023, 2026); Badminton Asia, 'BWF announce Hall of Fame inductees 2021' · recall

  7. She was a former BWF President.

    Source: BWF news releases on Hall of Fame inductions (2019, 2021, 2023, 2026); Badminton Asia, 'BWF announce Hall of Fame inductees 2021' · recall

  8. 2008, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2026.

    Source: BWF news releases on Hall of Fame inductions (2019, 2021, 2023, 2026); Badminton Asia, 'BWF announce Hall of Fame inductees 2021' · recall

  9. The five-year wait is the normal rule.

    Source: BWF news releases on Hall of Fame inductions (2019, 2021, 2023, 2026); Badminton Asia, 'BWF announce Hall of Fame inductees 2021' · recall

  10. The induction was announced on 2 May and held on 26 May 2023.

    Source: BWF news releases on Hall of Fame inductions (2019, 2021, 2023, 2026); Badminton Asia, 'BWF announce Hall of Fame inductees 2021' · applied

Questions people ask

What is the longest rally in badminton?
A 211-shot rally in Kuala Lumpur passed the 195-stroke rally from Korea a year later. Rallies on outside courts are not counted, so nobody can be sure it is the longest ever played.
Who has won the most All England titles?
Sir George Thomas, with 21: four singles, nine men's doubles and eight mixed doubles. The museum notes the total has never been passed.
Was Sir George Thomas also a chess player?
Yes. At Hastings in 1935 he beat Capablanca and Botvinnik in successive rounds, and he also played at Wimbledon from 1906 to 1926.
How long was Lee Chong Wei world number one?
He spent 349 weeks at number one, and one spell ran from 21 August 2008 to 14 June 2012. The BWF noted the record when he entered its Hall of Fame in 2023.
Who won the most titles in a single season?
Kento Momota won eleven titles in 2019, passing the earlier mark.
When did Danish players start winning the All England?
A large Danish group came in 1938, and Danish players won their first titles the next year, mostly in doubles events.
How do players get into the BWF Hall of Fame?
It honours players and administrators who lifted the sport. A five-year wait is the normal rule, although the committee may consider active players in special cases.

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: the BWF and its continental confederations, national federations, the All England Club history, the Olympic Channel and Olympedia, Guinness World Records, museums, makers' own histories and named reputable media.

  • Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' and 'Kitty Godfree' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020)20
  • Guinness World Records: longest marathon playing badminton (singles, 2019; doubles, 2014), most participants in a badminton rally (2025), largest badminton championships (2016)10
  • Guinness World Records, 'Longest badminton rally in competition' (2010); CNN, Malay Mail and Free Malaysia Today reports on the 211-shot rally at the 2023 Malaysia Masters10
  • Badminton Museum, 'Sir George Thomas - A Legend as a Player, Administrator and Gentleman' (badmintonmuseum.org); BWF, 'Badminton icon Sir George Thomas' (2020)10
  • Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships'; Bangkok Post, '33 beats 18 - Baun over Ratchanok' (2013); Arab News (2013); Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree'10
  • BWF Hall of Fame announcement for Lee Chong Wei (2023); Badminton Association of Malaysia, 'Career milestones'; Reuters (28 September 2018); Badminton Planet ranking reports (2019-2022); Taiwan News (2025)10
  • BWF, 'Momota captures HSBC BWF World Tour Finals to make it 11 titles in 2019' (corporate.bwfbadminton.com); Guinness World Records, most men's singles titles in a season; The Daily Star, 'Lin lifts first Super Grand Slam' (2011)10
  • Badminton Museum, 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org)10
  • BWF news releases on Hall of Fame inductions (2019, 2021, 2023, 2026); Badminton Asia, 'BWF announce Hall of Fame inductees 2021'10