The Shuttle Drop: The most chaotic All England in modern history.

🏸 The Drop

A record 38 upsets, marathon match times, and a completely reshaped winners’ circle made this one of the most unpredictable tournaments we’ve ever seen.

And the biggest takeaway? A new wave of players has officially arrived.

💥 Smash Headlines

Lin Chun-yi wins his first All England — and looks like a genuine force in men’s singles
Chinese Taipei make history with two titles (MS + XD)
Wang Zhi Yi shocks An Se Young to take women’s singles
Korea go back-to-back in men’s doubles
117 hours played — one of the longest editions ever

Lin Chun-yi

🔥 What everyone is talking about

✨ Chinese Taipei’s breakthrough moment

This wasn’t just a good week — it was historic.

Lin Chun-yi’s journey has been years in the making. A prodigy who burst onto the scene as a teenager, he spent seasons grinding through the European circuit — talented but inconsistent.

Now 26, he looks transformed.

More efficient. More composed. Still devastating.

From a small fishing village in Fangliao to All England champion — this feels like a true arrival.

Alongside him, Ye Hong-wei / Nicole Gonzales Chan delivered one of the stories of the tournament.

Ye has long had the power. What he lacked was consistency.

Enter Chan… calm, composed, and the perfect balance.

A brand-new partnership… and already champions.

💪 Looong matches

Conditions were brutally slow this year in Birmingham — and it showed.

Matches stretched. Rallies extended. Legs went. Tomoka Miyazaki logged 3h 47m on court. Lakshya Sen pushed through visible cramps in a heroic semi-final

This wasn’t just about skill. It was about endurance.

Tomoka Miyazaki

🔄️ The All England is changing

This was the final edition of the All England in its current format.

From 2027, badminton is set to undergo major structural changes as part of a broader push to modernise and globalise the sport.

Expect: New tournament structures. Increased commercial focus. A shift in how elite badminton is packaged and consumed

The sport is evolving — fast.

🇮🇳 PV Sindhu travel chaos

Sindhu was stranded in Dubai en route to Birmingham — a reminder that life on tour can be unpredictable before a match even begins.

🌏 On the tour

Kunlavut Vitidsarn becomes World No.1 for the first time
Shi Yu Qi’s 32-week run at the top comes to an end. His record is 51.
Still untouched: Lee Chong Wei’s 200-week reign

👀 Players to watch

🇨🇦 Victor Lai
21 year old backing up his world bronze with a big Super 1000 semi-final run

🇮🇩 Raymond Indra/ Nikolaus Joaquin
21/20 years old, the next generation of Indonesian men’s doubles. Fearless, explosive, and crowd favourites

➡️ Next: Swiss Open

🇲🇾 Lee Zii Jia returns
After a long injury layoff, the former world No. 2 is back via qualification.
Still one of the most dangerous players in the world — if fit.
🇮🇩 Ginting rebuilding
Another former world No.2 trying to find rhythm again. Fitness remains the question.

🎙️ Off court

My coach kept shouting ‘be patient and confident’… I’m not the calmest player. - Ye Hong-wei

We turned pressure into motivation - Tan Ning

I don’t think my hairstyle will bring me any luck - Wang Zhi Yi

🎯 Tactic of the week

Master the Forehand Net Shot with Viktor Axelsen.

Prepare early with your arm extended
Use neutral grip
Keep movement small and controlled
Hold longer for cross-court deception
Ask partner partner to feed you to practice.