HistoryData
sports2012

Badminton at the 2012 Summer Olympics — badminton championships

January 1, 2012

China dominated Olympic badminton in 2012, winning all five gold medals; the tournament was also marked by a women's doubles disqualification scandal.

Quick Facts

Year
2012
Category
sports

Key Facts

Dates
28 July – 5 August 2012
Athletes
172
Events
5 (singles, doubles, mixed doubles)
China total medals
8 (5 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
Venue
Wembley Arena, London

By the Numbers

28
Dates
172
Athletes
5
Events
8
China total medals

Location

Map of London, United KingdomMap of London, United KingdomLondon, United Kingdom

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Badminton was included in the 2012 London Summer Olympics programme as an established Olympic discipline. China entered as the dominant force in world badminton, fielding top-ranked players across all five contested events at Wembley Arena.

Event

172 athletes competed in five badminton events from 28 July to 5 August 2012. Chinese players won every gold medal on offer. The women's doubles group stage was disrupted when multiple pairs were disqualified for deliberately losing matches to secure more favourable draws in the knockout rounds.

Consequence

China topped the badminton medal table with eight medals total, reinforcing its status as the world's leading badminton nation. The disqualification scandal prompted the Badminton World Federation to review competition formats to discourage tactical losing in future Olympic tournaments.

Result

China
5 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze

at Wembley Arena, London

China won all five badminton gold medals at a single Olympics

Timeline Context

Timeline around 201220122009201020112013201420152012 Summer Olympics — Games of the XXX Olympiad, in London, United KingdomUEFA Euro 2012 — 14th European association football championship2012 Summer Paralympics — 2012 edition of the Summer ParalympicsJanuary 2012 — month of 20122012 Formula One World Championship — 63rd season of Formula One motor racingAthletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics — athletics events at the OlympicsFootball at the 2012 Summer Olympics — 2012 edition of the association football torunaments during the Olympic Summer Games2012 Africa Cup of Nations — football tournamentbadminton-at-the-2012-summer-olympics-badminton-championsh-2012