Top 10 badminton matches of all time: legendary showdowns

The top 10 badminton matches of all time showcase diverse matchups and highlight careers that have elevated the sport to its current status.

From epic five-set duels to shocking upsets, these encounters have demonstrated the sport’s beauty and intensity over the years.

Relish those legendary matchups featuring Lin Dan, Viktor Axelsen, Lee Chong Wei, Carolina Marin, and more.

Each matchup tells a story of rivalry, redemption, or triumph against the odds.

Whether you’re a casual enthusiast or a die-hard fan, these matches represent the finest spectacles in badminton history, filled with passion and world-class athleticism.

Matchup	Date	Venue	Event	Winner	Result
Lee Chong Wei vs Lin Dan	August 5, 2012	Wembley Arena, London	2012 London Olympics	Lin Dan	15-21, 21-10, 21-19
Lin Dan vs Lee Chong Wei	August 17, 2008	Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium	2008 Beijing Olympics	Lin Dan	21-12, 21-8.
Chen Long vs Lee Chong Wei	August 20, 2016	Riocentro-Pavilion 4, rio de Janeiro	2016 Rio Olympics	Chen Long	21-18, 21-18
Viktor Axelsen vs Chen Long	August 2, 2021	Musashino Forest Sports Plaza, Tokyo	2020 Tokyo Olympics	Viktor Axelsen	21-15, 21-12
Taufik Hidayat vs Shon Seung-mo	August 21, 2004	Goudi Olympic Hall, Athens	2004 Greece Olympics	Taufik Hidayat	15-8, 15-7 (old scoring system)
Lin Dan vs Lee Chong Wei	August 14,2011	Wembley Arena, London	BF World Championships (Men’s Singles final)	Lin Dan	20-22. 21-14, 23-21
Carolina Marin vs P.V. Sindhu	August 19, 2016	Riocentro-Pavilion 4, Rio de janeiro	2016 Rio Olympics	Carolina Marin	19-21, 21-12, 21-15
Ratchanok Intanon vs Li Xuerui	August 11, 2013	Tiamhe Gymnasium, Guangzhou	BWF World Championships (Women’s Singles final)	Ratchanok Intanon	22-20, 18-21, 21-14
Taufik Hidayat vs Peter Gade	September 21, 2006	Palacio de Deportes, Madrid	BWF World Championships (Men’s Singles quarterfinal)	Taufik Hidayat	21-19, 21-14
Kidambi Srikanth vs Chen Long	June 18, 2017	Istora Senayan, Jakarta	Indonesia Open (Men’s Singles final)	Kidambi Srikanth	22-20, 21-16

1. Lee Chong Wei vs Lin Dan (2012 London Olympics)

The top two men’s singles shuttlers around the world – China’s Lin Dan and Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei collided for the gold for the second straight time.

Lee was out for redemption after the Malaysian lost to Lin for the gold in the latter’s home soil at the 2008 Beijing Games.

The Malaysian took the opening set with the hopes of getting payback, but Lin could not be denied once again.

Fans recalled it as one of the greatest Olympic finals in the sport due to its tactical nature and emotional intensity during the three-set classic.

Thus, Lin completed the job as the only shuttler with back-to-back Olympic singles golds, while another heartbreak befell Lee.

See also:

• Top Badminton players in the BWF prize money list
• Uber Cup legends
• The greatest five shuttlers in badminton
• 11 Richest Badminton Players in the world
• Top Indonesian badminton players

2.Lin Dan vs Lee Chong Wei (2008 Beijing Olympics)

The matchup that started what would be one of badminton’s greatest rivalries all began in Beijing.

Unlike their rematch in 2012, Lin dominated Lee throughout and swept his way to his first Olympic gold.

The win proved special not only since he won it over family and friends, but Lin and Lee also helped introduce badminton to millions of fans on the global stage.

A decade later, the Lin-Lee rivalry still had its legs, but this first matchup marked the moment Lin became a global icon for the sport.

Their matchup also set the tone for the era that followed, even beyond their playing years, elevating badminton’s worldwide profile to majestic heights.

3. Chen Long vs Lee Chong Wei (2016 Rio Olympics)

Lee Chong Wei made another deep run in his third-straight Olympic campaign in an effort to finally erase the ghost of two previous heartbreaks.

He made a breakthrough win by ousting perennial tormentor Lin Dan in the semifinals to advance to the final.

However, another Chinese stood in the way as Chen Long stood at the plate to replace Lin in the final.

Chen’s power game and relentless consistency not only secured his first Olympic gold but ensured a passing of the torch from one Chinese star to another, in effect.

Lee suffered another heartbreak, this time to a different opponent, showing that even legends can fall short at the biggest stage.

4. Viktor Axelsen vs Chen Long (2020 Tokyo Olympics)

badminton event at three consecutive Olympics, and Asian players in general have been in the finals on all occasions.

The trend was finally shattered after the 2020 Tokyo Games in 2021, as Viktor Axelsen magnified his world No. ranking by winning the men’s singles gold.

Axelsen succeeded where Lee Chong Wei failed, defeating Chen Long with a dominating performance in the final to deny China an Olympic badminton gold for the first time in 12 years.

The win signaled a different trend, as a European star finally destroyed the Asians’ invincibility in the sport.

Axelsen’s win not only inspired a European generation of shuttlers but also shifted the global balance of power in badminton.

5. Taufik Hidayat vs Shon Seung-mo (2004 Athens Olympics)

Even before China dominated men’s singles badminton, Asian shuttlers had reigned in the sport as early as the 2004 Athens Games.

Indonesia and South Korea found their best in the final, as Taufik Hidayat took on Shon Seung-mo for all the marbles in Greece.

Taufik dispatched Shon under the old scoring system at the time to vault Indonesia into the elite of badminton.

His win not only gave Indonesia its first men’s singles Olympic gold, but also encouraged shuttlers from Southeast Asia that winning an Olympic medal in the sport is within reach.

Taufik displayed innate flair and creativity to offset Shon’s power, making him one of badminton’s all-time greats way after his legendary career was over.

6. Lin Dan vs Lee Chong Wei (2011 World Championship-London)

The rivalry between Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei was not limited to their Olympic battles, as evident in the 2011 World Championship final in London.

Fans flocked to the Wembley Arena to see the two Asian superstars battle it out in another exciting three-setter.

Lee again took the opening set and was a matchpoint away from the title, but Lin refused to give up and made a dramatic comeback.

Lin displayed a mental toughness that mirrored his previous successes, overcoming Lee again in the last two sets to snare the trophy.

This rivalry’s legacy raises a burning question of “what if” for Lee, despite all his heartbreaks, while Lin solidifies his place as the sport’s big-stage player.

7. Carolina Marin vs P.V. Sindhu (2016 Rio Olympics)

The 2016 Rio Olympics also showcased a thrilling women’s singles final that shared the spotlight with the men.

Like the men’s singles final, the women’s singles final was assured of another Asian representative as India’s P.V. Sindhu vaulted into the final.

Standing in Sindhu’s way is Spaniard Carolina Marin, who hopes to equal Axelsen’s feat of being a European poised to win it all,

Marin displayed ferocious speed and intensity, overwhelming Sindhu after losing the opening set to capture the gold.

The Spaniard became the first non-Asian to win the women’s singles gold in badminton, also signalling a shift of power from Asia to Europe.

Sindhu’s silver elevated badminton to greater heights in India, but her matchup with Marin also reshaped the global badminton landscape.

8. Ratchanok Intanon vs Li Xuerui (2013 World Championship)

Asian shuttlers were back in the spotlight on this one, with Ratchanok Intanon carrying her youth and Thailand to a first-ever World Championship final.

She was up against a hostile crowd in Guangzhou, as Li Xuerui stood in her way for greatness at the time.

The two shuttlers split the first two sets before Ratchanok defied any cold feet to defeat Li in the decider and became the youngest to win the title.

The 18-year-old Thai rising star thus boosted Thailand’s standing on the global badminton stage with her breakthrough victory.

Ratchanok showed that youth and creativity can be offset by natural greatness to join the badminton elite and leave a lasting mark on the sport.

9.) Peter Gade vs Taufik Hidayat (2006 World Championships quarterfinals)

Taufik Hidayat and Peter Gade had another showdown between Asia and Europe at the 2006 World Championships.

Their matchup may not be for the gold, but both shuttlers displayed the artistry, creativity, and balance that endeared them to a European audience in Madrid.

Taufik overcame the European crowd to beat Gade in a matchup between two of the most stylish players of the sport at the time.

Their playing styles demonstrated that badminton is played not only with speed and endurance, but also with artistry.

Hidayat and Gade’s matchup carried cultural significance, as they linked Europe and Asia once again in badminton through mutual respect and admiration.

10. Kidambi Srikanth vs Chen Long (2017 Indonesia Open)

Kidambi Srikanth defied tremendous odds, stunning Olympic champion Chen Long to claim the 2017 Indonesia Open title.

Kidambi displayed a relentless attacking style and a fearless attitude to overwhelm Chen in a two-set masterclass.

His victory marked a significant breakthrough for badminton in India, signaling the South Asian nation’s rise as a powerhouse in the sport following P.V. Sindhu’s success among women.

Srikanth also led a new wave of shuttlers who are ripe to challenge the traditional dominance of Chinese shuttlers and expand the sport’s competitive field.

His win also served as a reminder that new stars could emerge and shake up the badminton’s global hierarchy at any time and place.

What the future holds for 2025 and beyond

Badminton’s future can only look brighter with the arrival of exciting, young stars and more thrilling rivalries.

The Lin Dan-Lee Chong Wei era may be over, but their influence is clearly shown through a new wave of champions bursting through the scene.

Viktor Axelsen remains a force to reckon with among the men, but the rise of Shi Yuqi, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, and Anthony Ginting ensures there won’t be a dearth of stars in the next few years.

This also goes through for the women, with South Korea’s An Se-young chased by three Chinese shuttlers in Wang Zhi Yi, Han Yue, and Chen Yufei.

The legacies of these classic matchups will live on, but badminton’s rightest chapters are still being written.

Visit M88Badminton.com for more badminton news and updates.

Check out M88 Mansion’s best offers here.