What Is the Greatest Badminton Match of All Time?

Ask badminton fans to name the greatest badminton match ever played and one pairing comes up again and again: Lin Dan against Lee Chong Wei. The question is which of their meetings deserves the title. This article sets out what makes a match “the greatest”, then argues the case for the two strongest contenders, the 2012 Olympic final and the 2011 World Championship final, and explains why the Olympic final edges it.

If you are looking for a wider selection of classic matches across eras, events and both men’s and women’s play, see our list of the most memorable matches in badminton history.

What Makes a Match the Greatest?

Close scores alone are not enough. A match that is still discussed years later usually combines:

Stakes: the biggest title available, ideally Olympic or world gold.
Quality: both players near their best at the same time, rather than one having an off day.
Drama: a deciding game, swings of momentum and a finish that could have gone either way.
Story: a rivalry or a career moment that gives the result meaning beyond the scoreline.
Legacy: a match that changed a career, a rivalry or how people viewed the sport.

Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei’s rivalry is the strongest in badminton history on all five counts. Over more than a decade they met dozens of times, usually in finals, and Lin Dan won the majority of their meetings, including every Olympic and World Championship final they played.

The Rivalry Behind the Matches

By 2011, Lin Dan had won Olympic gold in Beijing and several world titles. Lee Chong Wei had spent years as world No. 1 and won dozens of Superseries titles, but had lost to Lin Dan in the 2008 Olympic final. The one thing missing from Lee’s record was a world or Olympic title, and Lin Dan was usually the player in his way.

Their styles were a perfect contrast. Lin Dan was a left-hander who played in powerful bursts, with a steep jump smash and fast attack at the net. Lee was a right-hander whose game was built on speed around the court, flat, fast exchanges and outstanding defence. Rallies between them rarely settled into a pattern.

Contender One: 2011 World Championship Final, London

The 2011 World Championships were held at Wembley Arena, the same venue that would host the Olympic badminton a year later. Lee won the first game 22-20, Lin Dan levelled 21-14, and the deciding game went beyond 20-20. Lee held match point at 20-19 and came within a point of the title before Lin Dan recovered to win the third game 23-21.

The case for 2011

The finish was closer than in 2012: an extended third game decided by two points.
Many fans believe the standard of shot-making was even higher, with both players fresh and in form.
It set up the Olympic final a year later, giving it a story of its own.

Why it falls just short

A World Championship title is a huge prize, but in badminton Olympic gold carries more weight, especially for Lee, whose career would ultimately be judged on whether he won one. The 2011 final was a classic; the 2012 final was a classic with even more on the line.

The Greatest Match: 2012 Olympic Final, London

On 5 August 2012, the two met in the men’s singles final at Wembley Arena. Lin Dan was defending the title he had won in Beijing; Lee was trying to win Olympic gold for the first time and give Malaysia its first Olympic gold medal in any sport.

How the match unfolded

Game one (Lee 21-15): Lee started faster, attacking from mid-court and pressing Lin Dan at the net. He took the opening game comfortably.
Game two (Lin Dan 21-10): Lin Dan raised his pace, took the shuttle earlier and attacked Lee’s backhand side. Lee could not match the change.
Game three (Lin Dan 21-19): the deciding game was tight throughout, with long rallies and neither player able to build a lead. Lin Dan won the final points to take gold 21-19.

Why it is the greatest

Maximum stakes: Olympic gold, a defence of the title for one player and a nation’s first Olympic gold for the other.
Both at their peak: neither player was injured or out of form; this was the best two men’s singles players in the world at the height of their rivalry.
A deciding game decided by two points: after 79 minutes of badminton, the gold came down to the last few rallies.
Legacy: Lin Dan became the first man to win two Olympic singles golds in badminton, while Lee’s third-game defeat became the defining image of a career spent narrowly short of the top prize. He would lose a third Olympic final in 2016, to Chen Long.

Both men appear near the top of our list of the top 10 badminton players of all time, and this match is a big reason why.

Lessons Players Can Take From This Match

The 2012 final is worth watching in full, not just as highlights. Pay attention to:

Adjusting after a lost game. Lin Dan changed his tempo and targets in the second game rather than simply trying harder. If your plan is not working, change one thing at a time.
Attacking the backhand. Both players repeatedly tested the other’s backhand rear corner. Notice how often a weak reply from that corner starts the winning attack.
Defence as attack. Lee’s blocks and drives turned defence into pressure. Practise defending with a short, firm action that sends the shuttle flat rather than high.
Composure late in the game. In the final points, neither player gambled on risky shots. At 19-19, percentage play wins more than flair.

Other Contenders Worth Considering

Not everyone agrees that the greatest match must be a Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei final. Fans of women’s singles often point to the 2017 World Championship final between Nozomi Okuhara and PV Sindhu, which lasted almost two hours. Others choose Lee’s win over Lin Dan in the Rio 2016 semi-final, the last time they met at an Olympics. Both are covered in the memorable-matches list linked above. For how the Olympic tournament that produced the 2012 final is structured, read our guide to Olympic badminton rules and format.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the 2012 Olympic badminton final?

Lin Dan of China beat Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia 15-21, 21-10, 21-19.

Did Lee Chong Wei ever beat Lin Dan in a major final?

Lee beat Lin Dan in many tour finals, but never in an Olympic or World Championship final. His most famous win over Lin Dan at a major event was the Rio 2016 Olympic semi-final.