Why they rank here
Before the Open era's riches, Rudy Hartono was badminton's first global superstar. He won the All England Championship a record eight times, including seven in succession from 1968 to 1974 — a feat unmatched in any singles racquet sport — adding an eighth in 1976. He crowned his career as an undisputed World Champion in 1980 at 31, and anchored four Thomas Cup-winning Indonesian teams. Renowned for elegant, effortless movement and a whip-like smash, Hartono dominated an amateur age when the All England effectively served as the world title, drawing fervent crowds and giving the sport its first true glamour. Widely named among the greatest players of the twentieth century, he set the template for Indonesia's enduring badminton dynasty and remains the benchmark against which all All England greatness is measured, more than four decades after his final title.
Career profile
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