Most Wins in BWF World Championships
The BWF World Championships is the most significant event in badminton after the Olympics. It has produced legendary players in men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Lin Dan holds the record for men’s singles with 5 titles while Carolina Marín and Akane Yamaguchi are tied for the women’s singles record with 3 titles each. In men’s doubles, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng are the top players with 4 titles while Gao Ling and Huang Sui lead the women’s doubles with 3 titles. In mixed doubles, Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei also have 3 titles. These record-breaking performances with the most wins in the BWF World Championships continue to inspire badminton fans around the world.
Most Wins in BWF World Championships: Singles, Doubles & Mixed Doubles
Here, we look at the players with the most BWF World Championship titles across all categories.
| Category | Players – Record Holder(s) | Country | Titles | Years Won |
| Singles(Men) | Lin Dan | China | 5 | 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 |
| Singles(Female) | Carolina Marín | Spain | 3 | 2014, 2015, 2018 |
| Akane Yamaguchi | Japan | 3 | 2021, 2022, 2025 | |
| Doubles(Men) | Cai Yun & Fu Haifeng | China | 4 | 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Doubles(Female) | Chen Qingchen & Jia Yifan | China | 4 | 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Mixed Doubles | Liliyana Natsir | Indonesia | 4 | 2005, 2007 (with Nova Widianto) 2013, 2017 (with Tontowi Ahmad) |
Lin Dan (Men’s Singles – 5 Titles)
Country: China
Years Won: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013
Lin Dan, often referred to as “Super Dan”, is the most accomplished men’s singles player from China. He won five BWF World Championship titles in the years 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013. He is the only player to have achieved the “Super Grand Slam”, which means he won all nine major badminton titles by the time he turned 28. His incredible accomplishments are so significant that the Guinness World Records has officially acknowledged him for having the most men’s singles victories at the World Championships.
Carolina Marín (Women’s Singles – 3 Titles)
Country: Spain
Years Won: 2014, 2015, 2018
Carolina Marín is regarded as one of the top female singles players in badminton history. She has clinched three World Championship titles (2014, 2015, 2018) and becoming the first European woman to achieve this feat. Renowned for her quick, aggressive left-handed playing style and passionate demeanor, Marín challenged Asia’s long-standing dominance in the sport. Her consecutive victories in 2014 and 2015 showcased her reliability while her third title in 2018 solidified her status as a genuine legend.
Akane Yamaguchi (Women’s Singles – 3 Titles)
Country: Japan
Years Won: 2021, 2022, 2023
Akane Yamaguchi is currently one of the top female singles players in badminton. She has clinched three BWF World Championship titles in 2021, 2022, and 2023 and making her the first Japanese woman to do so. Renowned for her quickness, defensive skills, and reliability, Yamaguchi showcased her superiority by winning consecutively in 2021 and 2022 and her third title in 2023. These wins solidified her status as a joint record holder in women’s singles alongside Spain’s Carolina Marín.
Cai Yun & Fu Haifeng (Men’s Doubles – 4 Titles)
Country: China
Years Won: 2006,2009, 2010, 2011
Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng from China are true legends in men’s doubles. They have won an incredible four BWF World Championship titles (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011). Their teamwork was based on Cai’s fast skills at the front of the court and Fu’s strong smashes, one of which was recorded at 332 km/h. They showed their resilience in the unforgettable 2009 final which lasted for 75 minutes. The duo also made history at the Olympics by winning silver in Beijing 2008 and then gold in London 2012. These accomplishments secured their spot in the BWF Hall of Fame.
Chen Qingchen & Jia Yifan (Women’s Doubles – 4 Titles)
Country: China
Years Won: 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023
Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan from China are the most accomplished women’s doubles team in the history of the BWF World Championship. They have secured four titles in 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Their latest victory was achieved by defeating Indonesia’s Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti in a swift final that lasted just 41 minutes. They built their reputation through aggressive play and strong teamwork which helped them consistently outperform their opponents.. They also maintain their composure under pressure since they began partnering in 2014.
Liliyana Natsir (Mixed Doubles – 4 Titles)
Country: Indonesia
Years Won: with Nova Widianto(2005, 2007), with Tontowi Ahmad(2013, 2017)
Liliyana Natsir is recognized as the most accomplished mixed doubles player in the history of the BWF World Championship. She secured four gold medals – two alongside Nova Widianto in 2005 and 2007 and two with Tontowi Ahmad in 2013 and 2017. Over the course of seven tournaments, she managed to win a medal each time amassing a total of seven medals (4 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze). She concluded her career by winning Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Games. She earned the prestigious honor of induction into the BWF Hall of Fame in 2022.
