Born in Odense in 1994, Denmark's Viktor Axelsen shone from an early age, winning the 2010 World Junior Championships in singles. To this day, this is a unique performance for a non-Asian badminton player. Four years later, he won his first world medal at senior level, with a bronze, before finally reaching the top step of the podium in 2017 and then 2022. European champion in 2016, 2018 and 2022, the lanky Scandinavian has also distinguished himself in the most prestigious of competitions: the Olympic Games. Bronze medallist in 2016 against Chinese legend Lin Dan, Viktor Axelsen has been unbeaten ever since, masterfully winning the editions in Tokyo in 2021 and Paris in 2024... in the hall that will host the world championships in August 2025.

It was in the French capital that Shi Yu Qi (China), born in 1996, achieved his first adult feat, winning the Yonex French Open in 2016. He became number 2 in the world a few months later at just 21 years of age, and went on to have his best year ever in 2018: a first Super 1000 success at the All England, a silver medal at the World Championships - beaten by Kento Momota - and the title at the World Tour Finals, against the same Momota. A bit away from the spotlights thereafter, the Chinese all-rounder made a thunderous return to the limelight, marked by four major titles at the start of 2024. Despite his status as the new world number 1, he lost in the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games to Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

In the country where badminton is king, China's Wang Zhi Yi has managed to carve out a place for herself among the elite! Born in 2000, the right-handed badminton player initially played in the shadow of her predecessors Chen Yu Fei and He Bing Jiao. Wang Zhi Yi won three titles on the first echelons of the World Tour circuit in 2019, and made her mark three years later, winning the Asian Championships. This performance opened the door to the world TOP 10, before she repeated the feat two years later against her training partner Chen Yu Fei. A prolific 2024 season, marked by four further titles, including the first Super 1000 of her career, on home soil. By September 2024, she had broken into the world's TOP 3 and was a serious contender for a world medal.

As talented as she is discreet, Akane Yamaguchi made her mark on the courts in 2013. At just 16 years of age, the Japanese player won her first major title on the senior circuit, winning the Japan Open. A historic performance punctuated by two gold medals at the 2013 and 2014 World Junior Championships and a remarkable entry into the world's top ten players at just 18 years of age. Asian champion in 2019, Akane Yamaguchi went on to claim the prestigious title of Senior World Champion in 2021, before retaining her crown the following year on home soil. Consistency at the highest level, backed up by numerous victories on the World Tour circuit, will enable her to take up a permanent position as world number one between May 2022 and July 2023.

Partnered on the international scene since 2011, Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen have gradually climbed the ranks, making their mark mainly on European Tour tournaments. The year 2018, when they won their first Super 1000 tournament and the title of European Champions, marked a first turning point, with a brief appearance in the world TOP 5. Subsequently hovering around 10th in the world rankings, the Danish pair took bronze at the 2021 World Championships, before a resounding silver medal at the 2023 edition, won in front of their home crowd. A new milestone for the Scandinavians, who finished fourth at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and are now well established in the upper echelons of men's doubles, just a few months ahead of the 2025 World Championships.

Born in the early 2000s, Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang began their association on the international scene in 2022. Finalists in Indonesia (Super 500) and then winners of the Japan Open (Super 750), the Chinese pair established themselves in the world's top 25 in just six months. An encouraging start was confirmed by a remarkable 2023. Semi-finalists on their first appearance at the World Championships, Liang/Wang won the first Super 1000 of their career two weeks later on home soil, in front of their home fans. Number one in the world and fresh from winning the Asian title, the Chinese colossuses went into the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as favourites. In the end, they had to settle for silver, beaten by reigning champions Lee/Wang.

Aged 18 and 19 respectively, Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning teamed up on the international circuit in November 2022. Their first international outing together was crowned with success, heralding a radiant future for the young pair. The year 2023 was a flamboyant one for Liu/Tan, who won five titles on the BWF World Tour, including the Yonex IFB, held exceptionally in Rennes. A member of the world's top 10 in just over a year, the Chinese pair confirmed their status by climbing to third place in the rankings in February 2024, fresh from their first Super 1000 stage win. Only beaten by their compatriots Chen/Jia in the final, Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning ended the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a silver medal around their necks.

Bronze medallists at the 2015 Junior World Championships, Nami Matsuyama (1998) and Chiharu Shida (1997) claimed their first title on the Senior circuit in 2017. In a discipline where the Land of the Rising Sun excels, regularly placed on the highest steps of the podium, the two Japanese progress behind the scenes. 2021 saw them win their first Super 1000 in Indonesia and break into the world TOP 10, but it was in 2022 that Matsuyama/Shida dazzled the international scene, winning the All England and then again the Indonesia Open, to close the year ranked second in the world. Finalists at the French Open and bronze medallists at the Olympic Games in 2024, the Japanese pair are now well established in the hall of the next world championships.