Women’s Doubles Badminton Champions of 2026: Shaped by the Battles of 2025

 

Women's doubles badminton is its own brand of intensity! It is less about raw brute force and more about relentless speed, razor-sharp anticipation, and mental toughness. The rallies are punishing, the margins are tiny, and the pressure to stay error-free is constant.

Both players need to read the game at the same speed, anticipate their partner's next move, and execute under pressure that builds with every exchange. A weak return gets exploited immediately. A momentary lapse in positioning opens up angles that are impossible to defend.

The best pairs don't just play together; they think together, moving as one unit even when they're on opposite sides of the court. This kind of synchronization takes time to develop and can fall apart in seconds if the mental side starts to crack. Here's a closer look at five elite pairs whose fierce play has made them stand out in 2025 and are ready to take the New Year by storm:

1. Liu Sheng Shu And Tan Ning - China

Favorite Racket: Yonex Nanoflare 700 Pro

Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning bring a distinctly modern Chinese style to the women's doubles game. They are explosive without being reckless, disciplined without being predictable. Their intensity lies in how fast they transition from defense to attack. One moment they're absorbing pressure, the next they're cutting off the rally with flat drives and sharp interceptions. Unlike men's doubles, where power can sometimes bail players out, this pair thrives on precision under speed, forcing opponents to crack first.

Liu and Tan’s duo started 2025 with a bronze at the Petronas Malaysia Open, Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships, and the KFF Singapore Badminton Open. They also secured the third position at the Li-Ning China Open and the HSBC World Tour Finals.

They stood second on the podium at the Yonex Swiss Open. The Chinese women’s doubles team won the title at the Bank of Ningbo Badminton Asia Championships, Perodua Malaysia Masters, Kapal API Indonesia Open, Diahatsu Japan Open, Victor China Open, and the Total Energies BWF World Championships.

What makes them especially dangerous is their patience. They're willing to grind rallies down, applying constant pressure shot after shot, waiting for a half-chance rather than forcing winners. Their intensity is built on footwork, angles, and flawless rotation, and it will be exciting to see how they perform in 2026.

2. Pearly Tan And Thinaah Muralitharan - Malaysia

Favorite Racket: ArcSaber 7 Pro and Nanoflare 700 Pro

Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan became the first-ever Malaysian team to reach the semi-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, making them a popular team in their home country.

Pearly's attacking intent from the rear court, combined with Thinaah's sharp net control, creates a constant forward push that keeps opponents under stress. It's not about overpowering opponents, but about never giving them time to breathe.

They won the bronze at the Yonex Sunrise India Open, Perodua Malaysia Masters, Victor China Open, Li-Ning Hong Kong Open, and the HSBC World Tour Finals. They secured the silver at the Daihatsu Indonesia Masters, the Kapal API Indonesia Open, the Daihatsu Japan Open, and the Total Energies BWF World Championships.

Pearly and Thinaah won titles at the Toyota Thailand Open, the Clash of Clans Arctic Open, the Kumamoto Masters Japan, and the SEA Games. Their 2025 showed how they have thrived in pressure moments, often raising their level when fatigue is highest.

3. Baek Ha Na And Lee So Hee - Korea

Favorite Racket: Victor DriveX 12

Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee represent classic Korean doubles excellence: Built on speed, reflexes, and flawless defensive structure. Their intensity is rooted in consistency at an extreme pace. So, even when they were unable to register a major win in the first few months of 2025, everyone knew a title would come soon.

Baek and Lee won the second position at the Orleans Masters in March and started adding valuable points to their tally. They were placed third on the podium at the Kapal API Indonesia Open, the Li-Ning China Masters, and the Suwon Victor Korea Open.

They won the Victor Denmark Open and ended the year on a high at the HSBC World Tour Finals. Their win showcases that they can sustain high-tempo rallies for long stretches without losing stamina.

Baek and Lee force opponents to work through multiple layers of resistance. Their matches often feel like endurance tests, mentally draining for anyone across the net. That rare ability to make defending look like attacking is exactly why they’re poised to dominate and make serious noise in the coming year.

4. Jia Yi Fan And Zhang Shu Xian - China

Favorite Racket: Nanoflare 800 Pro and Astrox 100 ZZ

Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian bring a balanced brutality to women's doubles. Their game is controlled aggression mixed with elite shot selection. Jia's physicality anchors the pair, while Zhang's sharp front-court instincts keep rallies moving at breakneck speed.

They started 2025 with a bang, winning silver at the Petronas Malaysia Open and bronze at the Daihatsu Indonesia Masters. They also won silver at the Perodua Malaysia Masters and Victor China Open.

Jia and Zhang secured the third position at the Orleans Masters in France and the All England Badminton Championships in England. They won bronze at other tournaments, including the Bank of Ningbo Badminton Asia Championships, the KFF Singapore Badminton Open, the Daihatsu Japan Open, the Victor Denmark Open, and the Yonex French Open.

They won the title at the Yonex Swiss Open, the Li-Ning Hong Kong Open, and the Li-Ning China Masters. Their strategy focused on adaptability mid-rally. They constantly adjust placement, pace, and angles instead of relying on outright power. 2026 will tell how they improve upon their strategy and unleash a relentless attack on their opponents.

5. Kim Hye Jeong And Kong Hee Yong - Korea

Favorite Racket: Nanoflare 700 Pro and Astrox 88D Pro

Kim Hye Jeong and Kong Hee Yong play with a deeply tactical intensity. Their speed is matched by intelligence, and their court coverage feels almost seamless. Every rally is a chess match played at full sprint. They don't just react, but they anticipate, cutting off shots early and forcing rushed decisions.

And, 2025 was no different! They won silver at the Yonex Sunrise India Open. Kim and Kong won the title at the Daihatsu Indonesia Masters, the Orleans Masters, the KFF Singapore Badminton Open, and the Suwon Victor Korea Open.

When this Korean women’s doubles team plays, opponents aren't just battling fast shuttles, but they are troubled by the constant variation and deception. And, it was visible in their games at the Victor China Open (Bronze), Li-Ning China Masters (Silver), Victor Denmark Open (Silver), and Kumamoto Masters Japan (Bronze).

In women's doubles, where consistency under pressure is everything, Kim and Kong excel by making rallies uncomfortable rather than spectacular. The result is a style that quietly wears opponents down, point by point. There's nothing flashy about it, but it works with brutal efficiency, and that’s why they are ready to rise in the rankings table in 2026.

The Real Test of Endurance!

Women's doubles badminton isn't a softer version of the men's game, but it's a faster-thinking, endurance-driven battle where precision, partnership, and mental strength decide outcomes. These five pairs prove that intensity isn't just about power; it's about sustaining speed, pressure, and clarity when every rally feels like a final.

The margins are brutally thin, the psychological battles never stop, and there’s no hiding on court. What separates these elite pairs from the rest isn't some secret technique or physical advantage. They've mastered the hardest part of women's doubles: making the extraordinary look routine, again and again. With that level of consistency and resilience, they’re set to make the New Year unmissable for anyone watching the sport.