Badminton is a popular sport worldwide, with millions of people playing the game. Some players dream to make a living with badminton money, but can badminton and other indirect money earned by playing badminton be enough for a player to survive?
In this article, we will look at how much badminton players can earn and what factors determine their income, thanks to the sport and its side activities.
Badminton is a popular racket sport that is enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. It is also a sport that has grown significantly in recent years, attracting a large number of professional players who compete in various tournaments and leagues around the world. The road from where badminton originated to today’s sport was long and successful but with the popularity of the sport, one question that often comes up is how much do badminton players earn?
There is a lot of money in sports these days, and Badminton is no different. In this article, we are going to talk about how much badminton players earn and where badminton money comes from.
But do professional badminton players earn good money from the sport? The short answer is yes, but there is a lot more to that. The earning potential of a player depends on many factors, such as their rankings, their sponsorship deals, and their tournament winnings.
Badminton Money: Where does it come from?
Prize Money
One of the main sources of income for professional badminton players is prize money. The amount of prize money a player can earn depends on the level of tournaments they compete in. Major tournaments like the Olympic Games, World Championships, and All England Open offer the highest prize money in badminton.
At the Olympics, each country have different amounts for gold medal winners, runners-up and bronze. For example Indonesia pays its players $346,000 for gold, $138,500 for silver and $69,250 for bronze. In the World Championships, the prize money for the singles winners was $120,000 in 2022, with the finalist securing $60,000 and the semi-finalists $30,000.
The All England Open, one of the most prestigious tournaments in badminton, offers a total prize money of around $1.2 million, with the singles winners taking home $70,000 and the doubles winners $74,000.
While the prize money for these major tournaments may seem impressive, it is very improbable for a player to reach that level and only the very few are able to compete at this level. Lower-tier tournaments offer much smaller prize money, with some even offering no prize money at all. For example, in 2021, the Swiss International, a BWF International Challenge tournament, offered a prize money of $13,500 for the singles winners and $6,480 for the runners-up. Lower level tournaments usually do not offer prize money and make it to the bottom of the list of the badminton prize money ranking. Many players think about how to become a professional badminton player, but this is not always easily attainable.
Sponsorships and Endorsements
Sponsorships and endorsements are a major source of income for many sports people as well as for badminton players. Companies may choose to sponsor players if they have a large following or if they are successful in their sport. Players may also receive endorsement deals from companies for using and promoting their products, which contributes to their total badminton money.
The amount of badminton money a player can earn from sponsorships and endorsements depends on their popularity and success. There is always the question of who is the best badminton player but in this context all top players like Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei, and Tai Tzu-Ying, that are some of the highest paid badminton player, have multiple sponsorship deals with major brands such as Yonex, Li Ning, and Victor.
These deals can be worth millions of dollars, and can make up a substantial portion of a player’s income. But again, it is only the very selected few that make such amounts of badminton money and definitely not all players can secure such lucrative deals. Players who are less well-known or who do not have a strong following may struggle to find sponsorship opportunities.
Salaries and Appearance Fees
Some professional badminton players may also receive salaries from their clubs or national associations. In countries like China, South Korea, Indonesia and India, badminton is a popular sport, and players may be contracted to play for clubs or national teams. These contracts may include a salary as well as bonuses for winning matches or tournaments.
Additionally, players may also receive appearance fees for playing in exhibitions or friendly matches. These fees may vary depending on the player’s popularity and the level of the event.
Endorsement Deals
Many players earn a considerable amount of badminton money through endorsement deals. Companies approach successful players to endorse their products or services. These deals can be very lucrative, and it is not uncommon for players to earn millions of dollars from these agreements.
Sponsorship
Badminton players who are successful in their respective fields often attract sponsors. Sponsors can be apparel or sports equipment manufacturers, sports drinks, and other companies looking to expand their visibility.
Government support
Many national governments provide funding and support to their national athletes. This helps the athletes to focus on their sport, without having to worry about finances.
Coaching
Some badminton players retire from playing professionally and move into coaching. Top coaches can earn a good amount of money as a badminton coach’s salary can be decent. Professional badminton players tend to develop their coaching skills to pass their expertise to other players also enabling them to keep being active even after they retire from professional badminton playing.
Factors that Affect a Badminton Player’s Income
There are several factors that can affect how much a badminton player earns. The player’s success on court and popularity are two of the most important factors. Players who win major tournaments and have a large following are more likely to secure lucrative sponsorship deals and appearance fees.
Another important factor is the level of competition they participate in. Players who compete at major tournaments with high badminton money prize are more likely to earn a substantial amount of money from prize money alone. However, these tournaments are often only open to the top-ranked players, so lower-ranked players may struggle to earn a significant amount of prize money and end up spending money in travelling and participation instead.
The player’s nationality and the popularity of badminton in their home country can also affect their income. Players from countries that badminton is one a hugely popular sport like China and Indonesia, can be immensely popular with the fans. In other countries, especially out of Asia, very successful badminton players might be still underknown in their own country.
Levels of Participation
To delve deeper into the question of whether a badminton player earns sufficient money playing badminton, we need to take a closer look at the different levels of professional badminton, the various tournaments and leagues that badminton players participate in, and the different factors that determine their earnings.
Professional Badminton Levels
The professional badminton world has three main levels, players in the international level, national level, and regional level. Let us look at each of these levels in more detail.
International Level
The international level is the highest level of professional badminton. It includes various prestigious tournaments and competitions, such as the Olympics, the World Championships, and the BWF Super 1000 series. Only the best players in the world are eligible to participate in these events, which are known for their high level of competition and considerably large prize money. We use the term considerable here, as when you compare the prize money with other sport, you still notice that the amounts are much lower.
National Level
The national level is the second-highest level of professional badminton. It includes national tournaments and competitions that are held within a country, and only the best players from that country are eligible to participate. National level competitions are also known for their high level of competition and decent prize money, in certain countries especially where Badminton is a popular sport.
Regional Level
The regional level is the lowest level of professional badminton. It includes competitions that are held within a particular region or district. Players who participate in regional competitions are usually aspiring professionals or seasoned amateurs who compete for smaller prize money.
Tournaments and Leagues
Professional badminton players participate in various tournaments and leagues around the world. Here are some of the most popular tournaments and leagues that offer good prize money.
Olympics
The Olympics is one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world. Badminton has been an Olympic sport since the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The Olympic badminton competition features five events, namely men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
The prize money for the Olympic badminton competition varies from year to year. However, in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the prize money for each event and depending on the agreed rewards by the particular represented country.
World Championships
The BWF World Championships is a biennial event that brings together the best badminton players from around the world. The competition features five events: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
The prize money Badminton World Championships also varies from year to year. However, in the 2019 World Championships in Basel, Switzerland, the prize money for each event was as follows:
- 🥇 Gold medal: USD 45,000
- 🥈Silver medal: USD 22,500
- 🥉Bronze medal: USD 13,500
BWF Super Series
The BWF Super Series is a series of 12 tournaments that are held throughout the year. The tournaments are held in different countries and offer high prize money. The top eight players in each event are eligible to participate in the Super Series Finals, which is held at the end of the year and offers even higher prize money.
The prize money for the Super Series varies from tournament to tournament. However, in the 2016 Super Series Finals in Dubai, the prize money was a total of $1,000,000. Not bad but is it enough?
Examples of Badminton Players and their earnings
The earning potential of a badminton player can vary significantly depending on their rankings. The players who are in the top ten of the world rankings can earn a considerable amount of money through tournament winnings and endorsements. However, lower-ranked players will have to rely on their winnings and any endorsement deals they can get. We’re going to look into some of the highest paid badminton players in the world.
Lin Dan
The most successful badminton player is China’s Lin Dan, who has won two Olympic gold medals and five world championships. He has an estimated net worth of around $40 million, which comes from his various endorsement deals.
Saina Nehwal
Saina Nehwal, a former world number one and Olympic bronze medallist, has an estimated net worth of around $12 million. She earns most of her badminton money through her endorsement deals with various companies, including Herbalife and Yonex.
Kidambi Srikanth
Kidambi Srikanth, who was ranked world number one in 2018, has an estimated net worth of around $4 million. He has won over $1 million in prize money from various tournaments, and he has also secured endorsement deals with Puma and Red Bull.
Apart from the top players in the world, many badminton players struggle to earn enough badminton money to make a living from the sport. They often have to rely on prize money and any sponsorship deals they can get. The competition is tough, and there are many players trying to make a living from the sport.
In conclusion, professional badminton players can earn a good amount of badminton money from playing the sport and doing some other related activities. The earning potential of a player depends on many factors, such as their rankings, sponsorship deals, and their tournament winnings. The top-ranked players can earn millions of dollars through tournament winnings and endorsement deals. However, lower-ranked players often struggle to make a living from the sport. It is for you to decide how much are badminton players rich.