Thailand’s badminton scene reached a historic milestone today as Kunlavut “View” Vitidsarn secured his path to becoming the first Thai men’s singles player ever to reach World No. 1 in the sport’s rankings.
The 23-year-old reigning world champion achieved this landmark by defeating Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi in straight games during the Singapore Open semifinals, booking his place in Sunday’s final and guaranteeing his ascension to the sport’s summit.
Vitidsarn dominated his semifinal encounter against the world No. 19 Lin Chun-yi with a commanding 21-11, 25-23 victory that lasted just under an hour. The comprehensive nature of his win in the first game, followed by his resilience in a tighter second set, demonstrated exactly why he has emerged as one of badminton’s most formidable competitors.
This achievement represents more than just a personal milestone for Vitidsarn. He becomes only the fourth Thai shuttler to hold a World No. 1 ranking in any category, joining an exclusive group that includes Ratchanok Intanon, who reached the women’s singles summit in 2016, and the mixed doubles pair of Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai, who claimed the top spot in 2021.
The significance of this moment was not lost on the badminton community. Khunying Patama Leesawadtrakul, who serves as both an IOC Member and President of the Badminton World Federation, was in attendance to witness this historic semifinal victory, highlighting the importance of the occasion for Thai badminton.
Born on July 16, 2001, in Nonthaburi, Thailand, Vitidsarn has been building toward this moment throughout his remarkable career. His journey to the top began with an unprecedented achievement in junior badminton, where he became only the second player in history to win the BWF World Junior Championships three consecutive times from 2017 to 2019. This early success marked him as a generational talent and set the stage for his current dominance.
Vitidsarn’s recent achievements have been nothing short of spectacular. He captured gold at the 2023 World Championships and added another major title at the 2025 Asian Championships.
His silver medal performance at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris further cemented his status among the sport’s elite players. These accomplishments have consistently positioned him as one of the most successful players of his generation.
The Thai star has earned the nickname “Three-Game God” due to his exceptional defensive style and remarkable stamina. His ability to outlast opponents in grueling three-game matches has become his trademark, with his defensive prowess often forcing opponents into extended rallies that ultimately favor his superior conditioning.
Vitidsarn’s rise to World No. 1 comes at the expense of China’s Shi Yu Qi, who was eliminated earlier in the tournament by Lu Guang Zu. Regardless of Sunday’s final result against Lu Guang Zu, Vitidsarn has accumulated enough ranking points to guarantee his position at the top when the BWF rankings are updated on Tuesday.
This historic achievement also highlights the emergence of a golden generation in men’s badminton. Vitidsarn continues to lead a remarkable group that includes Li Shi Feng of China, Japan’s Kodai Naraoka, and India’s Lakshya Sen – all players who competed together in the 2018 BWF World Junior Championships and have since become major forces in professional badminton.
The impact of Vitidsarn’s success extends far beyond individual accolades. His achievement represents a breakthrough moment for Thai badminton, potentially inspiring a new generation of players in a country that has traditionally been more associated with success in women’s singles and mixed doubles competitions.
Looking ahead, Vitidsarn will face China’s Lu Guang Zu in Sunday’s Singapore Open final, presenting him with an opportunity to cap off his historic week with a prestigious Super 750 title. The match will be a rematch of their recent Asian Championships final, adding extra intrigue to what promises to be a compelling conclusion to an already memorable tournament.
For Thai badminton fans, Vitidsarn’s ascension to World No. 1 represents the culmination of years of investment in the sport and the emergence of their country as a true badminton powerhouse across all disciplines.
