Considering one world champ per year for each event, surprisingly not many active world champions (including Olympics) MS: Lin Dan (06, 07, 08, 09, 11, 12, 13) 7 times Chen Jin (10) 1 time Chen Long (14) 1 time Note: (1) Lin Dan got 7 times world champs! Phenomenal ! This record can hardly be better except by Lin Dan himself! (2) All Chinese (3) Lee ChongWei might be the closest to the WC, here're his records: 2006: LCW lost to Bao CL (QF)......... Champion: Lin Dan 2007: LCW lost to Sony (3rd Round). Champion: Lin Dan 2008: LCW lost to Lin Dan (Final)..... Champion: Lin Dan 2009: LCW lost to Sony (QF)........... Champion: Lin Dan 2010: LCW lost to Taufik (QF)......... Champion: Chen Jin 2011: LCW lost to Lin Dan (Final)..... Champion: Lin Dan 2012: LCW lost to Lin Dan (Final)..... Champion: Lin Dan 2013: LCW lost to Lin Dan (Final)...... Champion: Lin Dan 2014: LCW lost to Chen Long (Final). Champion: Chen Long Amazing Lee Chong Wei, always entered final after 2011 ! ______________________________________________ WS: Wang Yihan (11) 1 time Li Xuerui (12) 1 time Inthanon (13) 1 time Marin (14) 1 time Note: (1) Unexpectedly, most past world champions have been retired, Xie Xingfang (05, 06) , Zhu Lin (07) , Zhang Ning (08), Lu Lan ( 09 ), Wang Lin ( 10) all those Chinese champions retired. Xie XF's husband Lin Dan ( the same year world champion) still playing (2) The WS champion seems to be the most unpredictable ______________________________________________ MD: Cai Yun (06, 09, 10, 11, 12) 5 times Fu Haifeng (06, 09, 10, 11, 12) 5 times Setiawan (07, 08, 13) 3 times M Kido (07, 08) 2 times M Ahsan (13) 1 time Ko Sunghyun (14) 1 time Shin Baekcheol (14) 1 time Note: (1) Cai Yun/Fu HF dominates (2) Where's Lee YD ? the highly regarded the most talented MD player without any championship ring. ______________________________________________ WD: Yu Yang (08, 10, 11, 13) 4 times Du Jing (08, 10) 2 times Wang Xiaoli (11, 13) 2 times Zhao Yunlei (12, 14) 2 times Tian Qing (12, 14) 2 times Note: (1) All Chinese ______________________________________________ XD: Lilyana Natsir (05, 07, 13) 3 times Zhang Nan (11, 12, 14) 3 times Zhao Yunlei (11, 12, 14) 3 times K R Juhl (09) 1 time Lee Yongdae (08) 1 time Tontowi Ahmad (13) 1 time Note: (1) Amazing Natsir leading in the list with ZN and ZYL. ______________________________________________ Correct me if I'm wrong.
It is not surprising at all. There just isn't enough money . The same can be said re swimming, running, gymnastic, diving, to name a few. Injuries is another factor also.