Badminton’s most prestigious competition is 125 years old this year.

Here are some fascinating facts about the Super 1000 event.

GENERAL

• Inaugural edition in 1899 only consisted doubles events; singles were introduced a year later.
• Sir George Thomas is the most successful athlete with 21 championships (nine in men’s doubles, eight mixed doubles, four men’s singles).
• Frank Devlin was the earliest non-English winner. The Irishman took men’s doubles (with England’s Guy Sautter) in 1922 and won on another 17 occasions. He sits second on the all-time list behind Thomas.
• Record for consecutive titles belongs to Indonesian men’s singles icon Rudy Hartono – seven (1968-1974).
• No athlete has more singles crowns than American Judy Devlin. Ten is her magic number.

OPEN ERA (1980 ONWARD)

• Doubles legend Gao Ling is the most decorated with 11 wins.
• Li Yongbo/Tian Bingyi are the last men’s pair to finish victors three times (1987, 1988, 1991).
• Having won in 2014 and 2019, Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan can equal their achievements.
• Despite Indonesia’s pedigree, they have not toasted a men’s singles champion for 30 years. Hariyanto Arbi in 1994 was the previous one to come good. Fifth seed Anthony Sinisuka Ginting is their main bet in 2024.
• For China, men’s doubles is the department they have gone the longest without winning, after Liu Xiaolong/Qiu Zihan in 2013. They can rely on two seeded pairs – Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang (2) and Liu Yu Chen/Ou Xuan Yi (8) – this time.
• Malaysia, meanwhile, have not had success in the discipline after Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong in 2007.
• Their best chance of ending that drought is via fifth-seeded 2022 world champions Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik.
• China are the most recent to do a sweep, in 2009, when they ended Denmark’s record that stood from 1948.
• They are one of two countries – Japan being the other – to have seeds in all five events.
• Li Shi Feng stands to become the first back-to-back men’s singles king since Lee Chong Wei in 2011. It is the longest category not to see a holder defend his title.
• Win for Li will take China to 22 men’s singles titles, joint-second highest with Denmark.
• Women’s singles third seed Tai Tzu Ying could become the first player to achieve four victories since Malaysian icon Lee in 2017.
• Tai is also the last in her discipline to win consecutively (2017-2018). It is a feat top seed An Se Young will hope to match.
• If An’s countrywomen Kim So Yeong/Kong Hee Yong retain their prize, they will be the first Korean women’s pair in 30 years to do so. Chung So Young/Gil Young Ah completed their double in 1994.
• Yuta Watanabe, who has two men’s doubles and three mixed doubles gold medals, can occupy the top step of the podium for the sixth time. The last shuttler to do so was the great Lin Dan in 2016.
• World No.1s and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty are the only top seeds without prior triumph.
• India are also yet to experience joy in categories other than men’s singles, in which H.S Prannoy is the seventh seed.
• Glory in either will end their 23-year wait for success since Pullela Gopichand became the second Indian after Prakash Padukonne to hoist the famous trophy in 2001.
• Post-Gopichand, just players from Malaysia, China, Japan and Denmark have conquered the field.
• Women’s doubles goes back further to 1981 – when English pair Nora Perry/Jane Webster finished top of the tree – to crown champions from countries outside Korea, China, Denmark and Japan.
• The eight seeded pairs this year represent three flags on that list – Korea, China and Japan.
• Nations waiting for their maiden All England titlist (s) but have seeded entries are Thailand (men’s singles and mixed doubles) and Hong Kong China (mixed doubles).
• Among former winners in the draw, Carolina Marin’s wait for a second crown is the lengthiest. She is yet to top the podium after her solitary strike in 2015.
• Mixed pair Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms remain the final home shuttlers to be victorious (2005).

Standout Stat: In 18 subsequent tournaments since Robertson/Emms’ triumph, only pairs from China, Japan and Indonesia have aced the discipline.