BWF World Championships
Badminton · Badminton World Federation (BWF; the IBF until 2006)
The BWF World Championships are badminton's individual world titles, first held at Malmö in 1977.
2026HolderAlex Lanier (France)
- Next
- 2027; host and dates not yet named by the BWF
- Most titles (nation)
- China, 73 of 150
- Most titles (player, one event)
- Lin Dan (China), 5 in men's singles
- India
- 16 medals: 1 gold (P. V. Sindhu, women's singles, 2019), 4 silver, 11 bronze
- Cycle
- Yearly since 2005, except 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024; every two or three years before
Winners, newest first
2026GoldSilverAlex Lanier (France)Host: New Delhi
2025Gold3rdSilverShi Yuqi (China)Host: Paris
20233rdSilverGoldKunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand)Host: Copenhagen
20223rdGoldSilverViktor Axelsen (Denmark)Host: Tokyo
20213rdGoldLoh Kean Yew (Singapore)Host: Huelva
2019SilverGold3rdKento Momota (Japan)Host: Basel
20181 silver, 1 bronzeGoldKento Momota (Japan)Host: Nanjing
20171 silver, 1 bronzeGoldViktor Axelsen (Denmark)Host: Glasgow
2015Gold3rd3rdChen Long (China)Host: Jakarta
2014Gold3rd3rdChen Long (China)Host: Copenhagen
20131 gold, 1 bronzeLin Dan (China)Host: Guangzhou
20111 gold, 1 bronze3rdLin Dan (China)Host: London
2010GoldSilver3rdChen Jin (China)Host: Paris
20091 gold, 1 silver2 bronzesLin Dan (China)Host: Hyderabad
20071 gold, 2 bronzesSilverLin Dan (China)Host: Kuala Lumpur
20061 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronzeLin Dan (China)Host: Madrid
2005SilverGold3rdTaufik Hidayat (Indonesia)Host: Anaheim
20031 gold, 1 bronzeXia Xuanze (China)Host: Birmingham
20013rd1 gold, 1 bronzeSilverHendrawan (Indonesia)Host: Seville
1999Gold2 bronzesSun Jun (China)Host: Copenhagen
1997Silver3rd1 gold, 1 bronzePeter Rasmussen (Denmark)Host: Glasgow
1995Gold2 bronzesHariyanto Arbi (Indonesia)Host: Lausanne
19931 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze3rdJoko Suprianto (Indonesia)Host: Birmingham
19911 gold, 1 bronze1 silver, 1 bronzeZhao Jianhua (China)Host: Copenhagen
1989Gold1 silver, 2 bronzesYang Yang (China)Host: Jakarta
19871 gold, 1 bronze3rdSilverYang Yang (China)Host: Beijing
19851 gold, 1 bronze1 silver, 1 bronzeHan Jian (China)Host: Calgary
19833rd1 gold, 1 silverIcuk Sugiarto (Indonesia)Host: Copenhagen
19801 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronzesRudy Hartono (Indonesia)Host: Jakarta
19773rd1 gold, 1 silverFlemming Delfs (Denmark)Host: Malmö
The silver and bronze medallists are in the data file.
2026HolderAn Se-young (South Korea)
- Next
- 2027; host and dates not yet named by the BWF
- Most titles (nation)
- China, 73 of 150
- Most titles (player, one event)
- Lin Dan (China), 5 in men's singles
- India
- 16 medals: 1 gold (P. V. Sindhu, women's singles, 2019), 4 silver, 11 bronze
- Cycle
- Yearly since 2005, except 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024; every two or three years before
Winners, newest first
20263rdSilverGold3rdAn Se-young (South Korea)Host: New Delhi
2025SilverGold3rd3rdAkane Yamaguchi (Japan)Host: Paris
20233rd3rdSilverGoldAn Se-young (South Korea)Host: Copenhagen
2022SilverGold3rdAkane Yamaguchi (Japan)Host: Tokyo
20212 bronzesGoldAkane Yamaguchi (Japan)Host: Huelva
2019Gold3rdSilver3rdP. V. Sindhu (India)Host: Basel
2018Silver3rd3rdGoldCarolina Marín (Spain)Host: Nanjing
20171 silver, 1 bronze3rdGoldNozomi Okuhara (Japan)Host: Glasgow
2015SilverGold3rd3rdCarolina Marín (Spain)Host: Jakarta
20143rdSilver3rdGoldCarolina Marín (Spain)Host: Copenhagen
20133rdSilver3rdGoldRatchanok Intanon (Thailand)Host: Guangzhou
20111 gold, 1 bronzeWang Yihan (China)Host: London
20101 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze3rdWang Lin (China)Host: Paris
20091 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronzeLu Lan (China)Host: Hyderabad
20071 gold, 2 bronzesZhu Lin (China)Host: Kuala Lumpur
20061 gold, 1 silverXie Xingfang (China)Host: Madrid
20051 gold, 1 silverXie Xingfang (China)Host: Anaheim
20031 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronzeZhang Ning (China)Host: Birmingham
20011 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronzesGong Ruina (China)Host: Seville
19991 silver, 1 bronze1 gold, 1 bronzeCamilla Martin (Denmark)Host: Copenhagen
19971 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronzesYe Zhaoying (China)Host: Glasgow
19951 gold, 1 silver3rd3rdYe Zhaoying (China)Host: Lausanne
19932 bronzesGoldSilverSusi Susanti (Indonesia)Host: Birmingham
1991Gold1 silver, 1 bronze3rdTang Jiuhong (China)Host: Copenhagen
19891 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze3rdLi Lingwei (China)Host: Jakarta
19871 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronzesHan Aiping (China)Host: Beijing
19851 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronzesHan Aiping (China)Host: Calgary
19831 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronzeLi Lingwei (China)Host: Copenhagen
19803rd1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronzeVerawaty Fadjrin (Indonesia)Host: Jakarta
19773rdGoldLene Køppen (Denmark)Host: Malmö
The silver and bronze medallists are in the data file.
2026HolderLiang Weikeng and Wang Chang (China)
- Next
- 2027; host and dates not yet named by the BWF
- Most titles (nation)
- China, 73 of 150
- Most titles (player, one event)
- Lin Dan (China), 5 in men's singles
- India
- 16 medals: 1 gold (P. V. Sindhu, women's singles, 2019), 4 silver, 11 bronze
- Cycle
- Yearly since 2005, except 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024; every two or three years before
Winners, newest first
2026Gold3rdSilverLiang Weikeng and Wang Chang (China)Host: New Delhi
2025SilverGold3rdKim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae (South Korea)Host: Paris
20233rdGoldSilver3rdKang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae (South Korea)Host: Copenhagen
20221 silver, 1 bronzeGoldAaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik (Malaysia)Host: Tokyo
2021Silver3rdGold3rdTakuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi (Japan)Host: Huelva
20191 gold, 1 bronze3rdSilverMohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan (Indonesia)Host: Basel
20181 gold, 1 bronzeSilverLi Junhui and Liu Yuchen (China)Host: Nanjing
2017Silver1 gold, 1 bronze3rdLiu Cheng and Zhang Nan (China)Host: Glasgow
2015GoldSilver3rd3rdMohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan (Indonesia)Host: Jakarta
20141 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze3rdKo Sung-hyun and Shin Baek-cheol (South Korea)Host: Copenhagen
2013Gold3rd3rdSilverMohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan (Indonesia)Host: Guangzhou
20113rdGold1 silver, 1 bronzeCai Yun and Fu Haifeng (China)Host: London
20103rd1 gold, 1 bronzeSilverCai Yun and Fu Haifeng (China)Host: Paris
2009GoldSilver2 bronzesCai Yun and Fu Haifeng (China)Host: Hyderabad
2007GoldSilver3rd3rdMarkis Kido and Hendra Setiawan (Indonesia)Host: Kuala Lumpur
2006Gold2 bronzesCai Yun and Fu Haifeng (China)Host: Madrid
20051 silver, 1 bronze3rdGoldHoward Bach and Tony Gunawan (United States)Host: Anaheim
2003Silver2 bronzesGoldLars Paaske and Jonas Rasmussen (Denmark)Host: Birmingham
2001GoldSilver2 bronzesTony Gunawan and Halim Haryanto (Indonesia)Host: Seville
19993rd1 gold, 1 silverHa Tae-kwon and Kim Dong-moon (South Korea)Host: Copenhagen
19971 gold, 1 bronze3rdSilverSigit Budiarto and Candra Wijaya (Indonesia)Host: Glasgow
1995Gold3rdSilver3rdRexy Mainaky and Ricky Subagja (Indonesia)Host: Lausanne
1993Gold3rdSilverRudy Gunawan and Ricky Subagja (Indonesia)Host: Birmingham
19913rd3rdGoldSilverKim Moon-soo and Park Joo-bong (South Korea)Host: Copenhagen
19893rd1 gold, 1 silver3rdLi Yongbo and Tian Bingyi (China)Host: Jakarta
1987Gold3rd3rdSilverLi Yongbo and Tian Bingyi (China)Host: Beijing
19853rdSilverGold3rdKim Moon-soo and Park Joo-bong (South Korea)Host: Calgary
19833rd3rdGoldSteen Fladberg and Jesper Helledie (Denmark)Host: Copenhagen
19801 gold, 1 silver3rd3rdAde Chandra and Christian Hadinata (Indonesia)Host: Jakarta
19771 gold, 1 silverTjun Tjun and Johan Wahjudi (Indonesia)Host: Malmö
The silver and bronze medallists are in the data file.
2026HolderBaek Ha-na and Lee So-hee (South Korea)
- Next
- 2027; host and dates not yet named by the BWF
- Most titles (nation)
- China, 73 of 150
- Most titles (player, one event)
- Lin Dan (China), 5 in men's singles
- India
- 16 medals: 1 gold (P. V. Sindhu, women's singles, 2019), 4 silver, 11 bronze
- Cycle
- Yearly since 2005, except 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024; every two or three years before
Winners, newest first
20261 silver, 1 bronzeGoldBaek Ha-na and Lee So-hee (South Korea)Host: New Delhi
2025Gold2 bronzesLiu Shengshu and Tan Ning (China)Host: Paris
20231 gold, 1 bronze3rdChen Qingchen and Jia Yifan (China)Host: Copenhagen
2022Gold3rdSilverChen Qingchen and Jia Yifan (China)Host: Tokyo
2021Gold3rd1 silver, 1 bronzeChen Qingchen and Jia Yifan (China)Host: Huelva
20193rd1 gold, 1 silverMayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara (Japan)Host: Basel
20181 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronzeMayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara (Japan)Host: Nanjing
2017Gold1 silver, 1 bronzeChen Qingchen and Jia Yifan (China)Host: Glasgow
2015Gold3rdTian Qing and Zhao Yunlei (China)Host: Jakarta
20141 gold, 1 silver3rd3rdTian Qing and Zhao Yunlei (China)Host: Copenhagen
20131 gold, 1 bronzeSilverWang Xiaoli and Yu Yang (China)Host: Guangzhou
20111 gold, 1 silver3rdWang Xiaoli and Yu Yang (China)Host: London
20101 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronzeDu Jing and Yu Yang (China)Host: Paris
20091 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronzesZhang Yawen and Zhao Tingting (China)Host: Hyderabad
20071 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze3rdYang Wei and Zhang Jiewen (China)Host: Kuala Lumpur
20061 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronzesGao Ling and Huang Sui (China)Host: Madrid
20051 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze3rdYang Wei and Zhang Jiewen (China)Host: Anaheim
20031 gold, 1 silver3rdGao Ling and Huang Sui (China)Host: Birmingham
20011 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze3rdGao Ling and Huang Sui (China)Host: Seville
19991 gold, 1 bronzeSilverGe Fei and Gu Jun (China)Host: Copenhagen
19971 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronzeGe Fei and Gu Jun (China)Host: Glasgow
19953rdGoldGil Young-ah and Jang Hye-ock (South Korea)Host: Lausanne
19931 gold, 1 silver3rdNong Qunhua and Zhou Lei (China)Host: Birmingham
1991Gold2 bronzesGuan Weizhen and Nong Qunhua (China)Host: Copenhagen
19891 gold, 1 bronzeSilverGuan Weizhen and Lin Ying (China)Host: Jakarta
19871 gold, 1 silver2 bronzesGuan Weizhen and Lin Ying (China)Host: Beijing
19851 gold, 1 silver2 bronzesHan Aiping and Li Lingwei (China)Host: Calgary
19831 gold, 1 bronze1 silver, 1 bronzeLin Ying and Wu Dixi (China)Host: Copenhagen
19803rd1 gold, 1 bronzeNora Perry and Jane Webster (England)Host: Jakarta
1977Gold3rdEtsuko Toganoo and Emiko Ueno (Japan)Host: Malmö
The silver and bronze medallists are in the data file.
2026HolderThom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue (France)
- Next
- 2027; host and dates not yet named by the BWF
- Most titles (nation)
- China, 73 of 150
- Most titles (player, one event)
- Lin Dan (China), 5 in men's singles
- India
- 16 medals: 1 gold (P. V. Sindhu, women's singles, 2019), 4 silver, 11 bronze
- Cycle
- Yearly since 2005, except 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024; every two or three years before
Winners, newest first
20261 silver, 1 bronze3rdGoldThom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue (France)Host: New Delhi
20251 silver, 1 bronze3rdGoldChen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei (Malaysia)Host: Paris
20231 silver, 1 bronzeGoldSeo Seung-jae and Chae Yu-jung (South Korea)Host: Copenhagen
20221 gold, 1 bronzeZheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong (China)Host: Tokyo
2021GoldDechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Thailand)Host: Huelva
20191 gold, 1 bronzeSilverZheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong (China)Host: Basel
20181 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronzeZheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong (China)Host: Nanjing
2017SilverGold3rdTontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir (Indonesia)Host: Glasgow
20151 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze3rdZhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei (China)Host: Jakarta
20141 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze3rdZhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei (China)Host: Copenhagen
20131 silver, 1 bronze3rdGoldTontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir (Indonesia)Host: Guangzhou
20111 gold, 1 bronze3rdSilverZhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei (China)Host: London
20101 gold, 1 silver3rdZheng Bo and Ma Jin (China)Host: Paris
20093rdSilver1 gold, 1 bronzeThomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl (Denmark)Host: Hyderabad
20071 silver, 1 bronze1 gold, 1 bronzeNova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir (Indonesia)Host: Kuala Lumpur
20061 gold, 1 silver3rd3rdNathan Robertson and Gail Emms (England)Host: Madrid
2005SilverGold3rdNova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir (Indonesia)Host: Anaheim
20031 silver, 1 bronzeGold3rdKim Dong-moon and Ra Kyung-min (South Korea)Host: Birmingham
2001GoldSilver2 bronzesZhang Jun and Gao Ling (China)Host: Seville
19993rdGold3rdSilverKim Dong-moon and Ra Kyung-min (South Korea)Host: Copenhagen
1997Gold3rd1 silver, 1 bronzeLiu Yong and Ge Fei (China)Host: Glasgow
19953rd1 gold, 1 silver3rdThomas Lund and Marlene Thomsen (Denmark)Host: Lausanne
19933rd1 gold, 1 silver3rdGoldThomas Lund and Catrine Bengtsson (Denmark / Sweden)Host: Birmingham
19911 gold, 1 bronze1 silver, 1 bronzePark Joo-bong and Chung Myung-hee (South Korea)Host: Copenhagen
19892 bronzesGoldSilverPark Joo-bong and Chung Myung-hee (South Korea)Host: Jakarta
19871 gold, 1 bronzeSilver3rdWang Pengren and Shi Fangjing (China)Host: Beijing
19853rdGold3rdSilverPark Joo-bong and Yoo Sang-hee (South Korea)Host: Calgary
19833rdSilver1 gold, 1 bronzeGoldThomas Kihlström and Nora Perry (Sweden / England)Host: Copenhagen
1980Gold2 bronzesSilverChristian Hadinata and Imelda Wiguna (Indonesia)Host: Jakarta
1977Gold1 silver, 1 bronzeSteen Skovgaard and Lene Køppen (Denmark)Host: Malmö
The silver and bronze medallists are in the data file.
India at the World Championships
| Year | Event | Player(s) | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Men's singles | Prakash Padukone | Bronze |
| 2011 | Women's doubles | Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa | Bronze |
| 2013 | Women's singles | P. V. Sindhu | Bronze |
| 2014 | Women's singles | P. V. Sindhu | Bronze |
| 2015 | Women's singles | Saina Nehwal | Silver |
| 2017 | Women's singles | P. V. Sindhu | Silver |
| 2017 | Women's singles | Saina Nehwal | Bronze |
| 2018 | Women's singles | P. V. Sindhu | Silver |
| 2019 | Women's singles | P. V. Sindhu | Gold |
| 2019 | Men's singles | B. Sai Praneeth | Bronze |
| 2021 | Men's singles | Srikanth Kidambi | Silver |
| 2021 | Men's singles | Lakshya Sen | Bronze |
| 2022 | Men's doubles | Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty | Bronze |
| 2023 | Men's singles | Prannoy H. S. | Bronze |
| 2025 | Men's doubles | Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty | Bronze |
| 2026 | Women's doubles | Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand | Bronze |
P. V. Sindhu has five medals, more than any other Indian player.
More about this tournament
Medal table (1977 to 2026, top 10)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 73 | 54 | 87 | 214 |
| 2 | Indonesia | 23 | 20 | 39 | 82 |
| 3 | South Korea | 16 | 15 | 35 | 66 |
| 4 | Denmark | 11 | 15 | 43 | 69 |
| 5 | Japan | 10 | 11 | 23 | 44 |
| 6 | Thailand | 3 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
| 7 | Spain | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | Malaysia | 2 | 10 | 14 | 26 |
| 9 | England | 2 | 8 | 13 | 23 |
| 10 | France | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
India: 1 gold, 4 silver, 11 bronze.
History
How it began
The first individual world championships were held in 1977, 29 years after the first Thomas Cup and 20 after the first Uber Cup. They were held every two or three years until 2005 and yearly since, with no edition in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 or 2024.
Champions by era
China have won 73 of the 150 titles; Indonesia (23), South Korea (16), Denmark (11) and Japan (10) come next.
India's story
Prakash Padukone won India's first medal, a men's singles bronze in 1983. India has won a medal at every edition since 2011, and P. V. Sindhu won India's only title, in 2019. India hosted the championships in Hyderabad (2009) and New Delhi (2026).
Firsts and facts
- First edition: Malmö 1977.
- China won all five titles in 1987, 2010 and 2011.
- Lin Dan won five men's singles titles; Park Joo-bong won five across men's doubles and mixed doubles.