As the new season dawns, here are some possible trends to look forward to in badminton:
Consolidation of New Powers
The last couple of seasons have seen Chinese Taipei and France emerge as powers; the time is now ripe for them to consolidate. While Chinese Taipei has produced a succession of individual talent over the last decade, a pool of world class talent has now emerged, particularly in men’s singles and men’s doubles.
The Popov brothers
The year that passed was a watershed one for France, with their first-ever HSBC BWF World Tour Super 1000 winners in Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue and first-ever season finale winner in Christo Popov. With the presence of other notables, such as Toma Junior Popov, Alex Lanier and Arnaud Merkle, the French campaign at the TotalEnergies BWF Thomas Cup Finals 2026 will be closely followed. So too will Chinese Taipei’s, for they have a team strong in both singles and doubles.
China Still Numero Uno
Liu Sheng Shu (right) and Tan Ning
That doesn’t mean, of course, that the traditional powers are about to relinquish their status any time soon. China have the resources and the personnel to keep their win-rate high across all five disciplines – although they might have the occasional setback such as the one at the last World Tour Finals, when they lost all three of their finals to non-Chinese opponents.
Traditional Powers Still Punch Big
Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik
Malaysia’s strength in the paired events has become the envy of their opponents. In men’s doubles Malaysia boast of several world-beating pairs, and in women’s doubles and mixed doubles they have the icons who can inspire a new generation of talent.
While they have concerns in men’s singles and women’s singles, the presence of pairs who frequently medal at the top tiers of the World Tour is cause for celebration.
Alwi Farhan
Indonesia have a somewhat more challenging situation. While they are particularly strong in disciplines such as men’s singles and men’s doubles, the other areas don’t have the same depth as yet.
What will enthuse them is that new stars have emerged for Indonesia in men’s singles; Jonatan Christie is still at the peak of his powers and will provide the inspiration for Alwi Farhan and Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah.
Will the Korean Fairytale Continue?
An Se Young
Korea could sit pretty by the end of 2025 with An Se Young and Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae completing their date with destiny with their 11th season title in Hangzhou. Will their challengers step up a level to make it more difficult for them to dominate 2026 as well? There was little hint of that happening to An Se Young, given that her primary challengers number just four at the moment; in contrast, Kim/Seo have been beaten by a greater number of opponents and might possibly find it challenging to maintain the sort of dominance they had in 2025.
Stubborn Veterans and Rising Stars
Chou Tien Chen
In Hangzhou, Chou Tien Chen remarked that his immediate goal was to play till he was 40. At 35, and still one of the game’s best men’s singles players, Chou is setting an example in elite men’s singles for longevity.
Similarly, Ratchanok Intanon – among the seniors in women’s singles – bid goodbye to 2025 with a semifinal finish in Hangzhou, and promised to keep going. A new emphasis on fitness, and less time spent refining skill, means that the 30-year-old is still able to fight off far younger challengers.
Players like Beiwen Zhang, Akane Yamaguchi, Lee So Hee, Yuki Fukushima, Mayu Matumoto and others continue to set the bar high. Of particular interest among fans in the new year will be the form of Viktor Axelsen, who’s returning after a prolonged break.
At the other end of the spectrum are the rising stars – names such as Alex Lanier, Ayush Shetty and Victor Lai.
Some fascinating battles await.
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