Why is badminton popular in Malaysia?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 21, 2026
Badminton. Badminton (also the same name in Malay) became a popular sport in Malaysia a while ago. This is most probably due to Malaysia's history with badminton and the Olympic games.
Is badminton famous in Malaysia?
The Malaysia national badminton team is ranked world number 7 in the BWF World Team Ranking (as of 3 August 2021). Malaysia has won the Thomas Cup, the world men's team trophy, five times since it was first contested in 1949 and has been runner-up nine times as of 2014.
What is the most popular sport in Malaysia?
Football and badminton are among the most popular sports in the country. Others include golf, bowling, squash, and water sports, such as yachting, kayaking, swimming, water polo and diving. Traditional games include silat, gasing and sepak takraw. Many Malaysian athletes achieve excellence at international level.
Is badminton national sport of Malaysia?
Badminton is the National game of Malaysia. It is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per side) and "doubles" (with two players per side).
Why is badminton so popular?
"Badminton is a sport that Asia has done well in at the international and world level, and this is a huge reason why the game is extremely popular." The dominance of Asia's badminton players at the top level helps to inspire others to pick up a racket, which in turn creates a healthy playing base.
20 related questions foundHow did badminton become a popular sport?
Badminton first appeared in the Olympic Games as a demonstration sport in 1972 and as an exhibition sport in 1988. At the 1992 Games it became a full-medal Olympic sport, with competition for men's and women's singles (one against one) and doubles (two against two). Mixed doubles was introduced at the 1996 Games.
Why is badminton popular in Asia?
According to Nikkei Asia, one of the reasons for the popularity of badminton is its accessibility. Badminton is enjoyed in Asia both as a sport played professionally and recreationally. Its accessibility to players is the result of both infrastructure and a near-flat learning curve.
What is Malaysian national sport?
Sepak Takraw or kick volley is considered to be Malaysia's official national sport- since the name itself is Malay.
What is Indonesia's national sport?
Badminton is Indonesia's most successful sport, described by the New York Times as "part of the national identity". Indonesia has won gold medals in badminton in every Olympic Games since the sport was first introduced to the Olympics in 1992, except in 2012.
Is badminton the most popular sport in Malaysia?
“Football is not only very popular in Malaysia but in many other countries due to its global appeal. However, based on performance badminton is the number one sport here.
What is Malaysia best known for?
What is Malaysia Famous For?
- The Petronas Towers. One of Malaysia's most recognisable and iconic landmarks is the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. ...
- Stunning Coastal Landscape. ...
- Malacca City. ...
- Gunung Mulu National Park. ...
- Batu Caves. ...
- Multiculturalism. ...
- Malaysian Food. ...
- 7 Interesting Facts About Kuala Lumpur.
Who is the most famous person in Malaysia?
Top 10 Famous Malaysians
- Dato' Michelle Yeoh. In the world of entertainment, Dato' Michelle Yeoh is definitely Malaysia's most successful movie star. ...
- Amber Chia. ...
- Dato' Jimmy Choo, OBE. ...
- Nicholas Teo. ...
- Ling Tan. ...
- Sheila Majid. ...
- Nicol David. ...
- Lee Chong Wei.
Who is the famous badminton player in Malaysia?
1. Lee Chong Wei (1982 - )
With an HPI of 55.47, Lee Chong Wei is the most famous Malaysian Badminton Player.
Did you know facts about Malaysia?
Malaysia Facts
- Population: 32.6 million people (2022)
- Capital: Kuala Lumpur with about 8 million inhabitants, the administrative capital, however, is Putrajaya with less than 100,000 inhabitants!
- Name: Malaysia.
- Motto: 'Unity is Strength'
- Government: Constitutional monarchy. ...
- Language: Malay (Bahasa Malaysia)
Can you name a Malaysian badminton player?
1 Lee Chong Wei
Malaysian former badminton player Datuk Lee Chong Wei held the first rank for 349 weeks as a singles player, thus becoming the only player from his country to be number one for over a year.
Is Malaysia a poor country?
As an upper middle-income country Malaysia is both a contributor to the development of low- and middle-income countries, and a beneficiary of global experience in its own journey towards high-income and developed nation status.
What is Malaysia's national dish?
Although versions of nasi lemak can be found across South-East Asia, Malaysia claims this beloved street food classic as its own. It's clear why nasi lemak is Malaysia's (unofficial) national dish.
Is badminton a national sport?
Malaysia and Indonesia are the two country whose national sports is badminton though this game has been originated from British-India.
What is the name of Malaysia flag?
The national flag of Malaysia, also known as the Stripes of Glory (Malay: Jalur Gemilang), is composed of a field of 14 alternating red and white stripes along the fly and a blue canton bearing a crescent and a 14-point star known as the Bintang Persekutuan (Federal Star).
Is soccer popular in Malaysia?
Football is the most popular sport in Malaysia, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1921, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game. The sport of football in the country of Malaysia is run by the Football Association of Malaysia.
What country is badminton most popular in?
China. China is by far the top performing country in the world in the Badminton Championships, a fact that has held true since 1977. Since then, players from this country have won 61 gold medals, 42 silver medals, and 64 bronze medals.
Where is badminton most popular?
Of the 220 million people that regularly play badminton, a majority of those live in Asia, specifically in China and South Korea. Although a number of different sports are also popular in these countries, the national affection for badminton surpasses even basketball and table tennis.
How popular is badminton in the world?
But badminton is an extremely popular indoor sport, which is played regularly by an estimated 220 million people around the world.