As another incredible season of badminton comes to an end, it is time to look back at the best performers of 2016. The season was dotted with surprises, shocks and some tremendous achievements that fans of the sport will remember for a long time.
Lee Chong Wei regained his top position but suffered a setback at the world’s biggest stage. Viktor Axelsen joined hands with Jan O Jorgensen to make Danish badminton a force to reckon with once again.
Presenting the five best men’s singles players of 2016:
#1 Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia)
Malaysian great Lee Chong Wei never fails to impress. In yet another fabulous season, Lee captured four titles and in the process, climbed back to where he belonged once – the top of the world. He had been building form from the end of last year when he reigned supreme at three back-to-back Superseries events – the French Open, the China Open and the Hong Kong Open.
In 2016, he started right from where had left. He triumphed at home at both the Malaysian Masters and the Malaysian Superseries, then took it a notch higher by grabbing the Indonesia Open as well.
That deservedly gifted him back the numero uno ranking. Lee also annexed the Japan Open title, staving off a stiff challenge from Jan O Jorgensen.
The only regret the 34-year-old will have from an otherwise stellar 2016 is his heartbreaking loss at the Rio Olympics Games final. He had been chasing the Olympic gold for long, having failed to cross the final hurdle at the 2008 and the 2012 Games, both times falling to his nemesis Lin Dan.
This time, he defeated the Chinese icon for the first time in a global event, edging him out 22-20 in the decider in an enthralling semi-final that was widely watched by badminton fans. But Lady Luck was not with him yet again as he succumbed to a straight-games defeat to the aggressive Chen Long in the summit showdown.
#2 Viktor Axelsen (Denmark)
The highly-talented Viktor Axelsen came into his own in 2016, putting together the most consistent as well as the most memorable season of his young career. The 22-year-old, touted as a future world champion for a long time, finally broke his Superseries duck after six earlier failures by winning the biggest of them all – the Dubai World Superseries Finals.
The mighty accomplishment that pushed him up to a career-high No. 3, was not his only highlight of the past season. At the Rio Olympics, the former junior world champion toppled the defending champion Lin Dan in the bronze-medal match after coming back from a game down to clinch the bronze.
The lanky Dane also conquered the European Championships, beating his senior compatriot Jan O Jorgensen, establishing himself as one of the very best the continent has ever produced.
#3 Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark)
In a great year for Danish badminton, Jan O Jorgensen was the other half of the sizzling duo that ruled the men’s singles events. At 28 years, Jorgensen already has a European Championships title, World Championships bronze medal, All England Championships silver medal, apart from several other Superseries titles.
In 2016, he added the China Open Superseries Premier title to his illustrious resume, upsetting the Olympic champion Chen Long in straight games.
The Copenhagen resident could have added two more Superseries titles had it not been for the unstoppable Lee Chong Wei. He lost both the Indonesia Open and the Japan Open finals to the Malaysian legend in three thrilling games.
The 2014 European champion also made it to the final of the continental championships only to be trumped by his junior countryman Viktor Axelsen. After yet another consistent season, the Dane now finds himself at his career-best ranking of No. 2.
#4 Son Wan Ho (Korea)
Korean No. 1 Son Wan Ho stormed to the final of the Singapore Open, accounting for the fourth seed Viktor Axelsen and sixth seed Tian Houwei on the way. But he failed to ride on that momentum and slumped to a three-game loss to Sony Dwi Kuncoro in the summit clash.
The 28-year-old did not let that setback affect him and it only motivated him for even bigger performances in the latter half of the season. Post the Rio Olympics, where he lost to the eventual winner Chen Long in the quarter-finals, the Korean embarked on his most productive part of the year. He first reached the semi-finals of the Japan Open, then followed it up with a runner-up finish at both the Korean Open and the Denmark Open.
He finally tasted victory at the Korea Masters Grand Prix Gold for his first title of the year. At the Dubai World Superseries Finals, the confident Son put up a stunning show to topple the World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei in his first group match. He eventually reached the semi-finals and was rewarded with his best-ever ranking of No. 4 at the end of the season.
#5 Shi Yuqi (China)
China’s next generation is already following in the footsteps of Lin Dan and Chen Long. 20-year-old Shi Yuqi had a prolific junior career, winning the Youth Olympics, the Asian Junior Championships, apart from a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in 2014.
In just two years, the youngster has already started asserting himself at the top level of the sport. The Chinese began the season by reaching the final of the Syed Modi International where he narrowly lost. That run prepped him up for a very strong 2016.
He triumphed at the Indonesian Masters, then took it a step further by winning his maiden Superseries title at the French Open and added the Bitburger Open crown as well, en route to breaking into the top 10. There’s no doubt that Yuqi is set to climb even greater heights soon.
