Some fascinating facts from the 116th edition of badminton’s oldest and most prestigious tournament for you to digest.

OPEN ERA (1980 ONWARD)

• China are the most recent to do a sweep, in 2009, when they ended Denmark’s record that stood from 1948.
• They are the sole country with seeds in all five events this year.
• Their star shuttler Shi Yu Qi could become the first back-to-back men’s singles king since Lee Chong Wei in 2011. It is the longest discipline without a successful title defence.
• Victory would also make the world No.1 the first man since Lee in 2014 to claim a third All England singles crown.
• If he does win, it will take China’s men’s singles tally to 23 – second only to England’s 27.
• His compatriots Liu Sheng Shu/Tang Ning and Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping pursue a maiden All England crown as the only top seeds without prior triumphs.
• Among former winners, Chen Yu Fei has endured the lengthiest wait for a second title. She has not topped the podium after her solitary strike in 2019.
• For China however, men’s doubles represents their longest drought – they have not won since Liu Xiaolong/Qiu Zihan in 2013. They count on third seeds Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang.
• Malaysia, on the other hand, have not had success in the department after Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong in 2007. This time, they have a good chance with three seeded pairs in the picture.
• The Malaysians have also never celebrated a women’s doubles titlists. Their hopes are pinned on second seeds Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan.
• Similarly, with no Malaysian pair having aced mixed doubles, world champions Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei will be particularly motivated to make history.
• To do that they will need to break a pattern – only pairs from China, Japan and Indonesia have won in mixed doubles at the last 20 editions.
• India, meanwhile, are yet to experience joy outside men’s singles.
• Glory for men’s doubles fourth seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty will end their 25-year wait for success since Pullela Gopichand became the second Indian after Prakash Padukonne to hoist the famous trophy in 2001.
• Post-Gopichand, only Malaysia, China, Japan, Denmark and Indonesia have produced champions.
• Four seeded players this year represent flags not on that list – France, Chinese Taipei and Thailand.
• France (men’s singles, mixed doubles) and Thailand (men’s and women’s singles) are among three teams with seeded players still seeking their nation’s first All England title. Hong Kong China (mixed doubles) are the other.
• Tai Tzu Ying was the last to win consecutive women’s singles crowns (2017-2018). It is a feat top seed An Se Young will hope to match.
• If An’s countrymen Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jaae retain their prize, they will be the first Korean men’s pair in 40 years to do so. Kim Moon Soo/Park Joo Bong achieved the double in 1986.

Standout Stat: After England’s Nora Perry/Jane Webster in 1981, no pair outside of Korea, China, Denmark or Japan finished top of the tree in women’s doubles.