Badminton World Cups 2025: Favorites and Athletes to Watch

As the Badminton World Cups 2025 approach, fans around the globe are gearing up to witness intense competition across all disciplines, with several top contenders vying for the coveted titles. Let’s dive into the favorites and athletes you should keep an eye on in men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles.

Men’s Doubles

• Kim Astrup / Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (DEN) – The Danish pair, former world number ones, are a strong contender. With a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships and a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics, they pose a significant threat.
• Liang Wei Keng / Wang Chang (CHN) – The Chinese duo, former world leaders, remain formidable opponents. Their regularity and consistency, marked by a continental title and Olympic silver medal, make them a force to reckon with.
• Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty (IND) – The Indian pair, ranked 9th, has been steadily climbing the ladder. Their brilliant 2023 season and a prestigious win at the IFB Paris in 2024 make them a dark horse in the competition.
• Christophe and Toma Junior Popov (FRA) – The French brothers, currently ranked 19th, confirmed their rise by becoming European champions in 2025. They will likely shine on home turf at the Arena Porte de la Chapelle.

Women’s Doubles

• Liu Sheng Shu / Tan Ning (CHN) – Topping the world rankings, this Chinese pair has established themselves as a reference in women’s doubles, thanks to their explosiveness and technical mastery, rewarded by gold at the 2025 Asian Championships and a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics.
• Matsuya Nami / Shida Chiharu (JPN) – The experienced Japanese pair occupies the 3rd spot in the world ranking. They secured a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and will be looking to build on that success.
• Baek Ha Na / Lee So Hee (KOR) – The South Korean duo, ranked 4th in the world, is no stranger to success, having secured a major title at the 2024 Asian Championships.

Mixed Doubles

• Jiang Zhen Bang / Wei Ya Xin (CHN) – Ranked 2nd in the world, this Chinese pair has made a meteoric rise, combining major titles with medals. Their status as future leaders in the discipline is well-earned.
• Feng Yan Zhe / Huang Dong Ping (CHN) – The Chinese pair, ranked 1st, impose their experience and regularity, with seven World Tour titles in 2023, IFB and Asian 2024 championships under their belt.
• Thom Gicquel / Delphine Delrue (FRA) – The French duo, ranked 7th, has great ambitions. Their win at the Open of Indonesia (Super 1000) and vice-championship at the European Championships 2025 make them a team to watch in front of their home audience.

“Badminton fans are in for a treat with these incredibly talented athletes set to compete at the World Cups.”

– Badminton World Federation (BWF)