Well, the BWF ranking is often regarded as one of the most crucial benchmarks for a majority of professional badminton players out there, as it straightforwardly determines their entry into the most prestigious badminton tournaments, including World Championships, All England Open and BWF World Tour events. Additionally, the BWF rankings also play a crucial role in deciding the seeding positions of players in these top-tier tournaments.
Over the past few decades, numerous prominent badminton players have shed their blood and sweat in order to improve their BWF rankings. However, only a few of them have succeeded in holding the coveted No. 1 position for multiple consecutive weeks. Have you ever wondered about the top four badminton players who have spent the most weeks at No.1 position in the BWF rankings? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top four players who have spent most weeks at No.1 position in the BWF rankings.
Top 4 Players With the Most Weeks at No.1 in BWF Rankings
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Lee Chong Wei, Malaysia
The 43-year-old Malaysian former professional badminton player Lee Chong Wei, who is often hailed as one of the greatest badminton players of all-time, is at the first spot on our list of the top four players who have spent the most weeks at No.1 position in the BWF rankings. Throughout his star-studded professional badminton career, Lee Chong Wei claimed numerous prestigious honours and titles, including a record total of three Olympic silver medals in the men’s singles event, speaking volumes about dominance on the game. Lee Chong Wei was ranked at the coveted No.1 position for a record total of 349 weeks, including a 199-week streak from 21 August 2008 to 14 June 2012 which continues to be the longest stretch as of March 2026, ranking him at the first spot on our list.
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Tai Tzu-ying
At the second spot on our list of the top four players who have spent most weeks at No.1 position in the BWF rankings, we have the 31-year-old trailblazing Taiwanese retired professional badminton player Tai Tzu-ying, who is often hailed as one of the greatest and most influential badminton players of his generation. Throughout her star-studded professional badminton career, Tai Tzu-ying clinched a silver medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the women’s singles event. Additionally, Tai Tzu-ying also won a gold and a bronze medal in the 2018 and 2014 Asian Games, respectively, in the women’s singles event. Moreover, the Taiwanese badminton sensation Tai Tzu-ying also claimed a silver and a bronze medal in the BWF World Championships in the years 2021 and 2022 respectively. Owing to her dominant exploits, Tai Tzu-ying was ranked at the world no.1 ranking in December 2016, and held that position for 214 weeks, which continues to be the second-longest stretch as of March 2026.
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Chen Qingchen
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Next, at the third spot on our list of the top four players who have spent the most weeks at No.1 position in the BWF rankings, we have the 28-year-old Chinese former professional player Chen Qingchen, who is often hailed as one of the most lethal specialists in the women’s doubles event. Widely regarded as one of the most successful badminton players of her generation, Chen Qingchen is an Olympic champion, four-time World Champion, two-time Asian Games gold medalist, and two-time Asian Champion, speaking volumes about her unmatched dominance in the game. Chen Qingchen also clinched a silver in women’s doubles at the 2020 Summer Olympics and gold in the same event at the 2024 Summer Olympics and garnered immense attention from badminton aficionados from all over the world. Owing to her dominant exploits on the court, Chen Qingchen was ranked at the No.1 position for a record total of 269 weeks, ranking her at the third spot on our list.
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Susi Susanti
Finally, at the fourth spot on our list of the top four players who have spent most weeks at No.1 position in the BWF rankings, we have the Indonesian retired professional badminton player Susi Susanti, who is often regarded as one of the most influential badminton players of her generation and a specialist in the women’s doubles event. Throughout her glorious career, Susi Susanti clinched a record total of two Olympic medals, a gold medal in the 1994 Asian Games, and two medals at the Asian Championships, including a gold and a silver medal in the years 1996 and 1991 respectively. Susi Susanti was ranked at the No.1 position for a record total of 263 weeks, which continues to be the fourth-longest stretch of time as of March 2026, ranking her at the fourth spot on our list.
