GENERAL

• Number of nations to have made the Olympics – 74.
• El Salvador, Kazakhstan and Nepal will be represented for the first time in Paris.
• In total, 12 countries have medalled – seven from Asia and five from Europe.
• China are the only one to complete a sweep, doing it at London 2012.
• China are also one of two nations, Indonesia being the other, to win gold in all five disciplines.
• They also lead the table in all but one category – men’s doubles, which belongs to Indonesia.
• But it is Korea who have the most medals (7) in the department.
• Only China, Indonesia, Korea and Denmark have medalled in all the categories.
• Among the traditional badminton powerhouses, Malaysia are yet to top the podium.
• From Europe, Denmark and Spain are the only countries to produce gold medallists.
• The rest are from Asia – China, Indonesia, Korea, Chinese Taipei and Japan.
• Korea, however, are going through a drought, last winning in mixed doubles at Beijing 2008.
• Denmark are the most successful European nation with nine medals.
• Gold in doubles events has been elusive for the Europeans.

POTENTIALS

• Korea, one medal behind Indonesia’s 21, stand to become the second most decorated in Olympic history.
• Viktor Axelsen could be the second men’s singles player after Lin Dan (2008, 2012) to defend his gold.
• Similarly, Chen Yu Fei has the chance to emulate compatriot Zhang Ning (2004, 2008) by retaining her women’s singles title.
• Victory for Pusarla V. Sindhu will make her only the second singles player to win a medal of every colour.
• Compatriots Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty are fancied to contribute India’s first medal in doubles discipline.
• No European player has triumphed more than once. Axelsen and Carolina Marin have the incentive of becoming the first.
• Fu Haifeng is the only player to win the same category with different partners (2012, 2016). Apriyani Rahayu and Huang Dong Ping could follow in his footsteps.
• Likewise, Seo Seung Jae, world champion in men’s and mixed doubles, can become the first male player to win two gold at the same Olympics. Zhao Yunlei did it at London 2012 in women’s and mixed doubles.