China is one of the top-ranking countries in badminton. Several Chinese badminton players have been ranked in the top 10 by BWF World Rankings through the years. That’s why it’s an excellent idea to learn about Chinese players. One thing you will notice in common among most of these players is that they start training at a very early age. Some even go to dedicated sports schools to train in badminton.
In this article, we are going to learn about some of the top badminton players in China, including:
- Lei Lanxi
- Chen Yufei
- Shi Yuqi
- He Bingjiao
- Li Shifeng
Lei Lanxi: The Rising Star of Chinese Badminton
Date of Birth: 25 January, 1998
Dominant Hand: Left
Category: Men’s Singles
Career:
Lei Lanxi started his badminton journey at the age of 9. He was admitted into the Dongguan Sports School to focus completely on badminton. He won a gold medal in the BWF World Junior Championships in 2016. He was soon selected for the China National Team of badminton. His latest achievement is helping his team win the Asia Mixed Team Championships in 2023.
Playing Style:
Lanxi has a balanced playing style. He is very agile and has powerful shots. Combining that on a court is a recipe for a win. He makes sure he brings in the win by using his strengths. His agility helps him with quick footwork. And the powerful shots land precisely where he aims. He smartly combines the two to overpower his opponents.
Strengths:
- Exceptional footwork
- Powerful smashes
- Strategic game planning
Achievements:
2019: Gold Medal in Belarus International for Men’s Singles
2022: Runner-up in Malang Indonesia International for Men’s Singles
2022: Runner-up in Vietnam International Series for Men’s Singles
2022: Runner-up in Malaysia International for Men’s Singles
2023: Gold Medal in China International Challenge for Men’s Singles
Chen Yufei: Master of Adaptability in Women’s Badminton
Date of Birth: 1 March, 1998
Dominant Hand: Right
Category: Women’s Singles
Career:
Chen Yufei has had an amazing career in badminton. She was playing professionally at the international level in 2013 only at the age of 15. She has won several major junior leagues. She was awarded the title of Eddy Choong Most Promising Player of the Year in 2017. The greatest feather in her cap is that she was ranked as the number 1 player in the world on BWF World Ranking on 17 December, 2019.
Playing Style:
Yufei is a versatile badminton player. That’s what helped her achieve her top ranking. She has a unique style in which she changes her gameplay to adapt to the opponents style. This gives the opponent a false sense of security that they are on the lead. But, in fact, she has the reigns. She also has great speed and precision, which are must have qualities on a court.
Strengths:
- Agile movement on the court
- Strong defensive play
- Varies shots
Achievements:
2020: Gold Medal in Olympic Games for Women’s Singles
2023: Gold Medal in China Masters for Women’s Singles
2023: Gold Medal in French Open for Women’s Singles
2023: Gold Medal in Denmark Open for Women’s Singles
2023: Gold Medal in Indonesia Open for Women’s Singles
Shi Yuqi: Rising Star and Master Tactician in Men’s Badminton
Date of Birth: 28 February, 1996
Dominant Hand: Right
Category: Men’s Singles
Career:
Shi Yuqi has had excellent badminton training throughout his childhood. He went to dedicated sports schools both in China and Singapore to learn from the best. He is so good that he was selected for the national badminton team at the early age of 16. He became quite famous when he defeated 6-time champion Lin Dan in the 2017 All England Open and again at the 2018 All England Open.
Playing Style:
Yuqi is a powerful badminton player. Years of training since his childhood have brought a finesse to his playing style. He smartly uses deceptive shots to trick the opponent into a different side of the court. He makes sure his returns are quick to keep opponents off balance. This helps him win rallies quickly.
Strengths:
- Deceptive shots
- Strong net play
- Mental resilience under pressure
Achievements:
2018: Gold Medal in BWF World Tour Finals for Men’s Singles
2022: Gold Medal in Denmark Open for Men’s Singles
2022: Gold Medal in Australian Open for Men’s Singles
2024: Gold Medal in India Open for Men’s Singles
2024: Gold Medal in French Open for Men’s Singles
He Bingjiao: The Tactical Genius of Women’s Badminton
Date of Birth: 21 March, 1997
Dominant Hand: Left
Category: Women’s Doubles
Career:
He Bingjiao has a career record of 298 wins and 111 losses (as of April 2024) in women’s singles. She was also trained at a special sports school for badminton. Her gameplay was so advanced that she participated in a senior-level game in her junior years. She was ranked number 5 by BWF World Ranking for Women’s Singles in 2022. Currently (as of January 2024), she is ranked at number 6 in the world.
Playing Style:
Bingjiao is a left-handed badminton player. She uses that to her benefit for playing unpredictable and deceptive shots. It gets a bit difficult to predict the motion trajectory of a left-handed player and she uses that to trick her opponents. Her own shots are accuratly placed at clever angles.
Strengths:
- Crafty shot-making
- Strong defensive skills
- Tactical awareness on the court
Achievements:
2014: Gold Medal in the Youth Olympics for Girl’s Singles
2016: Gold Medal in the Asia Team Championships for Women’s Doubles
2020: Gold Medal in the Uber Cup for Women’s Doubles
2021: Gold Medal in the Sudirman Cup for Mixed Doubles
2023: Gold Medal in the Sudirman Cup for Mixed Doubles
Li Shifeng: Rising Star of Chinese Badminton Game
Date of Birth: 9 January, 2000
Dominant Hand: Right
Category: Men’s Doubles
Career:
Li Shifeng developed an interest in badminton because of his father. He started his training at the age of 6. While in elementary school, he was part of the Jiangxi and Bayi teams. Soon after that, he started training at the National Youth Team Training Center in Shenyang. From there, he got a chance to be a part of China’s National second team in 2017. He has represented China in many international games and brought home victory.
Playing Style:
Shifeng majorly plays doubles badminton so his synchronization is great. This also helps him in communicating with his partner on the court. He plays well-coordinated attacks to keep the rally going. This defense game is less precise than the offence but its enough to set the pace of the game.
Strengths:
- Strong smash shots
- Quick reflexes at the net
- Anticipates opponents’ moves
Achievements:
2018: Gold Medal in the Youth Olympic Games for Boy’s Singles
2021: Gold Medal in the Sudirman Cup for Mixed Doubles
2022: Gold Medal in the Asian Games for Men’s Doubles
2022: Gold Medal in the Asian Games for Men’s Singles
2023: Gold Medal in the Sudirman Cup for Mixed Doubles
Final Thoughts
These are some of the best players not only in China but also in the whole world. Their numerous wins are a clear indication of their hard work. If you are thinking of becoming a professional badminton player, learn from their persistence. They trained for years to achieve great success at young ages. Take inspiration from their stories.
