Home > Sports > All England Open 2026: History, Preview, Full List of Past Winners And Why It’s Called The Wimbledon of Badminton

All England Open 2026: History, Preview, Full List of Past Winners And Why It’s Called The Wimbledon of Badminton

Let's explore the full history of All England Open, which is the oldest tournament of Badminton.Who are the past singles and doubles champions, what's India’s legacy, modern-day stars, and why it remains the true Wimbledon of badminton. Find out below

By: Uzma Fatima
Last Updated: March 3, 2026 17:31:18 IST

In the world of badminton, the tournament that feels like Wimbledon does in tennis, is the All England Open. It’s the oldest and most prestigious badminton championship in the world, the one every player dreams of winning at least once in their career.

First held on April 4, 1899, in London, the tournament featured only doubles events in its inaugural year. However, the singles competitions were added in 1900, and has since it became the gold standard of badminton excellence and tradition witnessing the rise of legends like Sir George Thomas, Frank Devlin, and Rudy Hartono.

For decades, the tournament was held at the Wembley Arena in London before moving to Birmingham in 1994, where it is now held at the Utilita Arena Birmingham.

Much like Wimbledon in tennis, the All England Open represents tradition, excellence, and history of the sport. In fact, until the official World Championships were introduced in 1977, the All England was widely regarded as badminton’s unofficial world championship.

The early years of the tournament were dominated by English and Irish players, who ruled the sport for over three decades. However, soon overseas players started leaving their mark.

After a pause during the World Wars, the tournament resumed in 1947 and began witnessing the rise of Asian and European powerhouse Denmark.

In 1950, Wong Peng Soon became the first Malaysian men’s singles champion, later adding multiple titles and paving the way for Southeast Asian dominance. Meanwhile, 1970s saw Japanese women dominate singles and doubles events. 

India’s presence at the All England Open

From an Indian perspective, the All England Open holds special emotional value. Prakash Padukone became the first Indian to win the prestigious men’s singles title in 1980, defeating Indonesia’s Liem Swie King.

Twenty-one years later, Pullela Gopichand followed in his footsteps by winning the 2001 crown with win over China’s Chen Hong.

Other Indian talents also dared to lift the silverware in Birmingham but they could only manage a run till the finals. The list includes Saina Nehwal who became the first Indian woman to reach the final in 2015. Lakshya Sen is another Indian star shuttler who finished as runner-up in 2022.

Modern Day Stars of All England Open: 

In recent years, the current top in the BWF rankings dominate the tournament. Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen broke the long-standing Asian grip on men’s singles with titles in 2020 and 2022. In women’s singles, An Se-young of South Korea has emerged as one of the sport’s brightest stars, winning in 2023 and 2025.

Tai Tzu-ying’s dominance defined an era with wins in 2017, 2018, and 2020 before retiring, while Indonesia continues to rule the doubles scene with champions like Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto. 

Why It’s the “Wimbledon of Badminton”

Just as Wimbledon, founded in 1877, is tennis’ oldest and most prestigious tournament, the All England Open, established in 1899, holds that same sacred space in badminton being the oldest tournament of the sport. Both were born in England and helped define the rules and traditions of their sports.

In fact, in the early 1900s, some athletes like Ethel Thomson and Sidney Smith even won titles in both Wimbledon Tennis and the All England Badminton Championships. 

Today, the All England Open is a BWF Super 1000 event, the highest level on the world tour. With only four Super 1000 tournaments each year, winning here still feels like lifting a Grand Slam trophy.

All England Open Past Winners:

Year Men’s Singles Champion Women’s Singles Champion
2000 Xia Xuanze Gong Zhichao
2001 Pullela Gopichand Gong Zhichao
2002 Chen Hong Camilla Martin
2003 Muhammad Hafiz Hashim Zhou Mi
2004 Lin Dan Gong Ruina
2005 Chen Hong Xie Xingfang
2006 Lin Dan Xie Xingfang
2007 Lin Dan Xie Xingfang
2008 Chen Jin Tine Baun
2009 Lin Dan Wang Yihan
2010 Lee Chong Wei Tine Baun
2011 Lee Chong Wei Wang Shixian
2012 Lin Dan Li Xuerui
2013 Chen Long Tine Baun
2014 Lee Chong Wei Wang Shixian
2015 Chen Long Carolina Marín
2016 Lin Dan Nozomi Okuhara
2017 Lee Chong Wei Tai Tzu-ying
2018 Shi Yuqi Tai Tzu-ying
2019 Kento Momota Chen Yufei
2020 Viktor Axelsen Tai Tzu-ying
2021 Lee Zii Jia Nozomi Okuhara
2022 Viktor Axelsen Akane Yamaguchi
2023 Li Shifeng An Se-young
2024 Jonatan Christie Carolina Marín
2025 Shi Yuqi An Se-young
Year Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles
2025 Kim Won-ho / Seo Seung-jae (KOR) Nami Matsuyama / Chiharu Shida (JPN) Guo Xinwa / Chen Fanghui (CHN)
2024 Fajar Alfian / Muhammad Rian Ardianto (INA) Baek Ha-na / Lee So-hee (KOR) Zheng Siwei / Huang Yaqiong (CHN)
2023 Fajar Alfian / Muhammad Rian Ardianto (INA) Kim So-yeong / Kong Hee-yong (KOR) Zheng Siwei / Huang Yaqiong (CHN)
2022 Muhammad Shohibul Fikri / Bagas Maulana (INA) Nami Matsuyama / Chiharu Shida (JPN) Yuta Watanabe / Arisa Higashino (JPN)
2021 Hiroyuki Endo / Yuta Watanabe (JPN) Mayu Matsumoto / Wakana Nagahara (JPN) Yuta Watanabe / Arisa Higashino (JPN)
2020 Hiroyuki Endo / Yuta Watanabe (JPN) Yuki Fukushima / Sayaka Hirota (JPN) Praveen Jordan / Melati Daeva Oktavianti (INA)
2019 Mohammad Ahsan / Hendra Setiawan (INA) Chen Qingchen / Jia Yifan (CHN) Zheng Siwei / Huang Yaqiong (CHN)
2018 Marcus Fernaldi Gideon / Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (INA) Yuki Fukushima / Sayaka Hirota (JPN) Yuta Watanabe / Arisa Higashino (JPN)
2017 Marcus Fernaldi Gideon / Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (INA) Chang Ye-na / Lee So-hee (KOR) Lu Kai / Huang Yaqiong (CHN)
2016 Vladimir Ivanov / Ivan Sozonov (RUS) Misaki Matsutomo / Ayaka Takahashi (JPN) Praveen Jordan / Debby Susanto (INA)
2015 Mathias Boe / Carsten Mogensen (DEN) Bao Yixin / Tang Yuanting (CHN) Zhang Nan / Zhao Yunlei (CHN)
2014 Mohammad Ahsan / Hendra Setiawan (INA) Misaki Matsutomo / Ayaka Takahashi (JPN) Zhang Nan / Zhao Yunlei (CHN)
2013 Liu Xiaolong / Qiu Zihan (CHN) Wang Xiaoli / Yu Yang (CHN) Zhang Nan / Zhao Yunlei (CHN)
2012 Jung Jae-sung / Lee Yong-dae (KOR) Tian Qing / Zhao Yunlei (CHN) Tontowi Ahmad / Liliyana Natsir (INA)
2011 Mathias Boe / Carsten Mogensen (DEN) Wang Xiaoli / Yu Yang (CHN) Xu Chen / Ma Jin (CHN)
2010 Lars Paaske / Jonas Rasmussen (DEN) Du Jing / Yu Yang (CHN) Zhang Nan / Zhao Yunlei (CHN)
2009 Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng (CHN) Zhang Yawen / Zhao Tingting (CHN) He Hanbin / Yu Yang (CHN)
2008 Jung Jae-sung / Lee Yong-dae (KOR) Lee Hyo-jung / Lee Kyung-won (KOR) Zheng Bo / Gao Ling (CHN)
2007 Koo Kien Keat / Tan Boon Heong (MAS) Wei Yili / Zhang Yawen (CHN) Zheng Bo / Gao Ling (CHN)
2006 Jens Eriksen / Martin Lundgaard Hansen (DEN) Gao Ling / Huang Sui (CHN) Zhang Jun / Gao Ling (CHN)
2005 Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng (CHN) Yang Wei / Zhang Jiewen (CHN) Nathan Robertson / Gail Emms (ENG)
2004 Jens Eriksen / Martin Lundgaard Hansen (DEN) Gao Ling / Huang Sui (CHN) Kim Dong-moon / Ra Kyung-min (KOR)
2003 Candra Wijaya / Sigit Budiarto (INA) Gao Ling / Huang Sui (CHN) Zhang Jun / Gao Ling (CHN)
2002 Ha Tae-kwon / Kim Dong-moon (KOR) Huang Sui / Gao Ling (CHN) Kim Dong-moon / Ra Kyung-min (KOR)
2001 Tony Gunawan / Halim Haryanto (INA) Gao Ling / Huang Sui (CHN) Zhang Jun / Gao Ling (CHN)
2000 Ha Tae-kwon / Kim Dong-moon (KOR) Ge Fei / Gu Jun (CHN) Kim Dong-moon / Ra Kyung-min (KOR)

Also Read: Explained: Why PV Sindhu is Missing All England 2026 Amid Middle East Tensions — Her Full Record And Best Finish at Badminton’s Most Prestigious Tournament

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