The one Olympic discipline that has been dominated by Asians is badminton. Ever since the sport was first introduced in Barcelona 20 years ago, Asians have won all but seven of the 76 badminton medals that have been handed out. Only seven countries have won at least one badminton medal, four of which are in Asia: China, Indonesia, South Korea and Malaysia. The three other countries who have made it to the podium are Great Britain, the Netherlands and Denmark. China has won the most medals - 30 in all, including 11 golds – followed by Indonesia with 18, including six golds, and South Korea with 17 medals, including five golds. Malaysia has pocketed four, including two silvers.
Even the Netherlands’ lone medal – a silver in women’s singles in 2004 – has Asian roots. It was won by Mia Audina, who is originally from Indonesia. Audina actually first won a silver medal in 1996 while representing the Southeast Asian nation, giving her the distinction of winning two Olympic medals for two different countries. The only non-Asian who has won a badminton gold is Poul Erik Hoyer-Larsen of Denmark, who claimed the men’s singles title in 1996. In the last Olympics, China won three of the five gold medals at stake, winning the men’s singles, women’s singles, and women’s doubles.
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