BADMINTON PLAYERS from Malaysia

Top 8

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Malaysian Badminton Players of all time. This list of famous Malaysian Badminton Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.

1. Lee Chong Wei (1982 - )

With an HPI of 45.60, Lee Chong Wei is the most famous Malaysian Badminton Player.  His biography has been translated into 35 different languages on wikipedia.

Datuk Lee Chong Wei (Chinese: 李宗伟; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lí Chong-úi; born 21 October 1982) is a Malaysian former professional badminton player. As a singles player, Lee was ranked first worldwide for 349 weeks, including a 199-week streak from 21 August 2008 to 14 June 2012. He is the fifth Malaysian player after Foo Kok Keong, Rashid Sidek, Roslin Hashim and Wong Choong Hann to achieve such a ranking (since official rankings were first kept in the 1980s), and is the only Malaysian shuttler who has held the number one ranking for more than a year. Lee is a triple silver medalist at the Olympic Games, and the sixth Malaysian to win an Olympic medal. He won his first silver medal in 2008, also the first time a Malaysian had reached the finals in the men's singles event. This achievement earned him the title Datuk, and led to then Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak describing him as a national hero. He repeated the achievement twice more in 2012 and 2016, thus making him the most successful Malaysian Olympian in history. On 13 June 2019, Lee announced his retirement after struggling to return to full fitness following a nose cancer diagnosis. He was appointed as Malaysia's chef de mission for the 2020 Summer Olympics, but skipped the event due to his health concerns. He retained his role, albeit serving it virtually. On 2 May 2023, Lee was inducted to BWF Badminton Hall of Fame.

2. Rashid Sidek (1968 - )

With an HPI of 33.83, Rashid Sidek is the 2nd most famous Malaysian Badminton Player.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Datuk Abdul Rashid bin Mohd Sidek (born 8 July 1968) is a Malaysian former badminton player and coach.

3. Goh Liu Ying (1989 - )

With an HPI of 29.06, Goh Liu Ying is the 3rd most famous Malaysian Badminton Player.  Her biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Goh Liu Ying (born 30 May 1989) is a Malaysian former badminton player. She has been consistently ranked among the top 10 mixed doubles player in the world with her partner, Chan Peng Soon. Together, they were ranked as high as world No. 3. They won the silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

4. Goh V Shem (1989 - )

With an HPI of 26.02, Goh V Shem is the 4th most famous Malaysian Badminton Player.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Goh V Shem (吴蔚昇; born Goh Wei Shem; 20 May 1989) is a Malaysian badminton player in the doubles event. He was partnered with Tan Wee Kiong after their outstanding performance at the 2014 Thomas Cup. Together, Goh and Tan won the gold medal for the men's doubles event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games as well as all their matches in the mixed team event, helping Malaysia retain the gold medal for the third consecutive time. They also won the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games and the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, thus making them the second ever Malaysian men's doubles pair to win the silver medal at the Olympic Games 20 years after the feat was achieved by Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock in 1996 Atlanta. Goh and Tan are also the fourth Malaysian men's doubles pair to hold the world number 1 ranking after Cheah and Yap followed by Chan Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng, and later on by Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong ever since official rankings were kept in the 80s. Goh is known for his offensive play style and his signature jumping smash. He would stand ready at the back while his partner guards the front, jumping when the opportunity arrives and delivering steep smashes towards the opponent.

5. Chan Peng Soon (1988 - )

With an HPI of 25.48, Chan Peng Soon is the 5th most famous Malaysian Badminton Player.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Chan Peng Soon (born 27 April 1988) is a Malaysian badminton player specialised in the mixed doubles event. He is best known for his partnership with Goh Liu Ying where they have been consistently ranked among the top 10 mixed doubles pair in the world. Chan and Goh reached a career high ranking of world number 3 in 2012 and won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

6. Aaron Chia (1997 - )

With an HPI of 25.45, Aaron Chia is the 6th most famous Malaysian Badminton Player.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Aaron Chia Teng Fong (Chinese: 謝定峰; pinyin: Xiè Dìngfēng; born 24 February 1997) is a Malaysian badminton player. He and his partner Soh Wooi Yik became the first ever world badminton champions from Malaysia after winning the men's doubles title at the 2022 World Championships. Together, they also won a gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games, a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Championships, as well as bronze medals at the 2020 Summer Olympics, 2022 Commonwealth Games, 2023 World Championships, and 2022 Asian Games.

7. Soh Wooi Yik (1998 - )

With an HPI of 23.87, Soh Wooi Yik is the 7th most famous Malaysian Badminton Player.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Soh Wooi Yik (Chinese: 蘇偉譯; pinyin: Sū Wěiyì; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: So͘ Úi-e̍k; born 17 February 1998) is a Malaysian badminton player. He and his partner Aaron Chia became the first ever world badminton champions from Malaysia after winning the men's doubles title at the 2022 World Championships. Together, they also won a gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games, a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Championships, as well as bronze medals at the 2020 Summer Olympics, 2022 Commonwealth Games, 2023 World Championships and 2022 Asian Games.

8. Tan Wee Kiong (1989 - )

With an HPI of 23.32, Tan Wee Kiong is the 8th most famous Malaysian Badminton Player.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Tan Wee Kiong (Chinese: 陳蔚強; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tân Ùi-kiông; born 21 May 1989) is a Malaysian badminton player in the doubles event. He is well-known for his former partnership with Goh V Shem, which began at the 2014 Thomas Cup. Together, Tan and Goh won the gold medal in the men's doubles and the mixed team event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. They also won bronze at the 2014 Asian Games. In their Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio Olympics, they won the silver medal, becoming the first Malaysian pair to achieve such a feat since 1996. In November 2016, they reached a career-high ranking of world number 1, making them the fourth ever Malaysian men's doubles pair to do so, after Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock, Chan Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng, and Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong.