Son Wan-ho (Korean: 손완호; Korean pronunciation: [so.nwan.ɦo] or [son] [wan.ɦo]; born 17 May 1988[1]) is a South Korean badminton player. He reached a career high as world number 1 in the men's singles in May 2017.[2] He competed at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. He plays primarily defensively, and began playing badminton after a teacher suggested it to him in elementary school.[citation needed] He holds a bachelor's degree from Inha University in Incheon, South Korea.[3] In 2017, he helped the Korean national team reach the final at the Sudirman Cup and won that tournament.[4][5] He is married to compatriot women's singles player, Sung Ji-hyun.[6]

Son at the 2010 BWF World Championships
Quick Facts Personal information, Born ...
Son Wan-ho
Son Wan-ho at the spring team event in 2015, held in Hwacheon
Personal information
Born (1988-05-17) 17 May 1988 (age 36)
Changwon, South Gyeongsang, South Korea
ResidenceSouth Gyeongsang, South Korea
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight143 lb (65 kg)
Years active2006–present
HandednessRight
Men's singles
Career record343 wins, 190 losses
Highest ranking1 (25 May 2017)
Current ranking197 (18 July 2023)
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  South Korea
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Glasgow Men's singles
Sudirman Cup
Gold medal – first place 2017 Gold Coast Mixed team
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Dongguan Mixed team
Thomas Cup
Silver medal – second place 2012 Wuhan Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Kunshan Men's team
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Incheon Men's team
Silver medal – second place 2010 Guangzhou Men's team
Asia Mixed Team Championships
Silver medal – second place 2017 Ho Chi Minh Mixed team
Asia Team Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Hyderabad Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Alor Setar Men's team
East Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Hong Kong Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Hong Kong Men's team
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2015 Gwangju Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2015 Gwangju Men's singles
Asian Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2005 Jakarta Boys' team
BWF profile
Close
Quick Facts Hangul, Hanja ...
Son Wan-ho
Hangul
손완호
Hanja
孫完虎
Revised RomanizationSon Wan-ho
McCune–ReischauerSon Wan-ho
Close

Achievements

BWF World Championships

Men's singles

More information Year, Venue ...
Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2017 Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland China Lin Dan 17–21, 14–21 Bronze Bronze
Close

East Asian Games

Men's singles

More information Year, Venue ...
Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2009 Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Hong Kong China Lin Dan 12–21, 21–23 Bronze Bronze
Close

Summer Universiade

Men's singles

More information Year, Venue ...
Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2015 Hwasun Hanium Culture Sports Center, Hwasun, South Korea South Korea Jeon Hyeok-jin 20–22, 21–13, 17–21 Silver Silver
Close

BWF World Tour (3 titles)

The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[7] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tours are divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100.[8]

Men's singles

More information Year, Tournament ...
Year Tournament Level Opponent Score Result
2018 Hong Kong Open Super 500 Japan Kenta Nishimoto 14–21, 21–17, 21–13 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2018 Korea Masters Super 300 Malaysia Lee Zii Jia 21–16, 21–11 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2019 Malaysia Masters Super 500 China Chen Long 21–17, 21–19 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
Close

BWF Superseries (2 titles, 5 runners-up)

The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,[9] was a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels were Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consisted of twelve tournaments around the world that had been introduced since 2011.[10] Successful players were invited to the Superseries Finals, which were held at the end of each year.

Men's singles

More information Year, Tournament ...
Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2012 India Open Malaysia Lee Chong Wei 21–18, 14–21, 21–19 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2012 China Masters China Wang Zhengming 21–11, 14–21, 22–24 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2014 Denmark Open China Chen Long 19–21, 22–24 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2014 Hong Kong Open China Chen Long 21–19, 21–16 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2016 Singapore Open Indonesia Sony Dwi Kuncoro 16–21, 21–13, 14–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2016 Korea Open China Qiao Bin 11–21, 23–21, 7–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2016 Denmark Open Thailand Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk 13–21, 21–23 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
Close
  BWF Superseries Finals tournament
  BWF Superseries Premier tournament
  BWF Superseries tournament

BWF Grand Prix (4 titles, 2 runners-up)

The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017.

Men's singles

More information Year, Tournament ...
Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2010 Chinese Taipei Open Indonesia Simon Santoso 14–21, 11–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2011 Korea Grand Prix Gold South Korea Lee Hyun-il 18–21, 16–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2013 Chinese Taipei Open Vietnam Nguyễn Tiến Minh 19–21, 21–9, 21–18 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2013 Macau Open Chinese Taipei Hsueh Hsuan-yi 21–11, 21–15 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2013 Vietnam Open Malaysia Tan Chun Seang 21–14, 21–9 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2016 Korea Masters Malaysia Liew Daren 21–13, 21–16 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
Close
  BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
  BWF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series (1 runner-up)

Men's singles

More information Year, Tournament ...
Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2009 Osaka International South Korea Lee Cheol-ho 21–19, 11–21, 11–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
Close
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF International Series tournament

Record against selected opponents

Record against Year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semi-finalists, and Olympic quarter-finalists. Accurate as of 1 December 2022.[11]

More information Player, Matches ...
Close

References

Wikiwand in your browser!

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.

Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.