Yonex's Domination of the Badminton World

Avi Taneja

September 23, 2022

When you hear the word badminton, what goes through your mind? Maybe it might be a notable name, but to a novice they might think of a notable brand. A brand that specializes in a lot of sports, but has dominated the badminton community. You might know what I am talking about. I speak of Yonex. Yonex has a few competitors, but in the USA it is the most notable badminton brand. 

Yonex’s journey dates back to 1946 where it was established from a single horsepower motor. Their original name was Yoneyama, until 1974 when the name is changed to Yonex, but we will refer to them as Yonex. From the technique of wood manufacturing, they started to manufacture badminton racquets in 1957. In 1969, Yonex continues to make racquets, this time it is aluminum tennis racquets, however. As time goes on, they continue to make various products, but badminton remains their original product and their best one in my humble opinion. 

In 1961, Yonex introduces the badminton racquet to the world and only two years later it is established in Tokyo to distribute the racquets internationally. The company always had a knack for innovation, and this is shown when in 1968 they make the first aluminum badminton racquet, called the #7000. In 1980, the first ultra-light badminton racquet, the Carbonex 8, is introduced. Innovations are happening rapidly, transforming the badminton world slowly, but surely into what we know of it now. Yonex establishes itself in the United States of America in 1983 as a subsidiary of Yonex Company, LTD. And only one year later, the company becomes the exclusive sponsor of the prestigious All England Badminton Championships. In 1992 however, Yonex introduces the first-ever isometric widebody badminton racquet, named the “Isometric 500”. In August of the year, Yonex is presented on multiple fronts as badminton joins the Olympics. On the courts, the Yonex players dominate, wiping the competition and winning every gold and silver medal awarded. Not stopping there, Yonex is the official equipment supplier for the Olympic games in Barcelona.

Following the huge success of four years ago, Yonex is named the official licensee of the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games. Not stopping there, they are also a nominee for the official Badminton Equipment Supplier for the Games’. Following four years ago, this time Yonex players again dominate and take every single medal, all except one singular bronze medal establishing the true apex of the badminton world. Four years later, at the Olympics once again, Yonex is appointed to the position of Official Badminton Equipment Supplier at the Sydney Olympics in the year 2000. They win all three medals, Gold, Silver, and Bronze there. Production-wise Yonex releases their first shoe with a material called Power Cushion which supposedly absorbs shock.

In 2007, Yonex celebrates their 25h successive year as the sponsors at the Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships. The title sponsors. Next year, Yonex does something no other sporting company has done. At the Beijing Olympic Games, every single badminton medal is awarded to Yonex players, creating history. They also sign Lee Chong Wei, a very skilled badminton player in 2009. This year they also release racquets called the ArcSaber Z-Slash which with some testing has the fastest ever recorded smash at the time of 421 km/h. They continually make records that have not been set before and feats that have not been done before. This is why Yonex dominates the badminton world.