Imagine playing an entire badminton match without winning a single point. Now imagine that happening in both games. It sounds almost impossible, but 21–0, 21–0 has happened multiple times in documented badminton matches, including at international championships.
From a nine-minute international match to a player who narrowly avoided a scoreless game at the World Championships, here are some of badminton’s most remarkable scorelines.
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1. Singapore’s Shinta Mulia Sari and Yao Lei: Asian Championships 2008
At the 2008 Badminton Asia Championships, Singapore’s Shinta Mulia Sari and Yao Lei defeated Turkmenistan’s Valeriya Efremova and Violetta Arutyunyan 21–0, 21–0 in women’s doubles.
Interestingly, Arutyunyan would feature in another reported 21–0, 21–0 defeat four years later. (Sohu Sports)
2. Fran Kurniawan and Shendy Puspa Irawati: Asian Championships 2012
Indonesia’s mixed doubles pair Fran Kurniawan and Shendy Puspa Irawati produced another double-zero result at the 2012 Badminton Asia Championships in Qingdao, China.
They defeated Turkmenistan’s Annachary Nyyazgulyyev and Violetta Arutyunyan 21–0, 21–0. Indonesian sports coverage reported that the match lasted just nine minutes. The Indonesians subsequently faced China’s second seeds Xu Chen and Ma Jin in the next round. (PBSI, Detik)
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3. Another double-zero result at the Asian Junior Championships
The scoreline appeared again at the 2016 Asian Junior Badminton Championships in Bangkok. Indonesia’s Calvin Kristanto and Bagas Maulana defeated Mongolia’s Tuguldur Boldbaatar and Temuulen Gombodorj 21–0, 21–0 in boys’ doubles. Badminton Asia reported that the match lasted just 11 minutes.
The same tournament saw India’s K. Ashwini Bhat and U.K. Mithula win their girls’ doubles match against Myanmar’s Dahlia and Thwe Tar Ooin 21–0, 21–9. (Badminton Asia)
4. Opeyori nearly suffers a 21–0 wipeout
At the 2021 BWF World Championships in Huelva, Nigeria’s Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori faced Japan’s Koki Watanabe. Opeyori lost 21–11, 21–1, but the second game could have been even more one-sided.
He trailed 0–20 before winning a point, narrowly avoiding a scoreless game. Afterwards, Opeyori offered a memorable response: “What matters is finishing the game.” (BWF)
Other famous 21–0 games
At the 2010 BWF World Championships, Japan’s Shizuka Matsuo and Mami Naito won the opening game 21–0 against Finland’s Sanna Rautala and Noora Virta in women’s doubles. (CCTV Sports)
At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, India’s Saina Nehwal defeated Caroline Black 21–0, 21–2. Historical reports also record a 21–0 game by China’s Xie Xingfang at the 2007 Japan Super Series and a deciding-game 21–0 by Indonesian great Taufik Hidayat against Gong Weijie at the 2007 Asian Championships. (NDTV, Sohu Sports)
Even world No. 1 An Se-young has spoken about wanting to win a game 21–0, highlighting how difficult it is to prevent an opponent from scoring even once. (India Today)
Has anyone won 21–0, 21–0?
Yes. The 2008 and 2012 Asian Championships and the 2016 Asian Junior Championships provide documented examples.
There is no comprehensive official all-time database establishing a definitive world record for 21–0, 21–0. Still, these matches show just how one-sided badminton can become.
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