My Favourite Sport - Badminton

web page by Balu


Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per side) and "doubles" (with two players per side). Badminton is often played as a casual outdoor activity in a yard or on a beach; formal games are played on a rectangular indoor court. Points are scored by striking the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the opposing side's half of the court. Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. Play ends once the shuttlecock has struck the floor or if a fault has been called by the umpire, service judge, or (in their absence) the opposing side.[1]

Badminton, court or lawn game played with lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock. Historically, the shuttlecock (also known as a “bird” or “birdie”) was a small cork hemisphere with 16 goose feathers attached and weighing about 0.17 ounce (5 grams). These types of shuttles may still be used in modern play, but shuttles made from synthetic materials are also allowed by the Badminton World Federation. The game is named for Badminton, the country estate of the dukes of Beaufort in Gloucestershire, England, where it was first played about 1873. The roots of the sport can be traced to ancient Greece, China, and India, and it is closely related to the old children’s game battledore and shuttlecock. Badminton is derived directly from poona, which was played by British army officers stationed in India in the 1860s. The first unofficial all-England badminton championships for men were held in 1899, and the first badminton tournament for women was arranged the next year.

Badminton in the Olympics

Badminton was introduced in the Olympics for the first time in 1972 as a demonstration sport. While at the 1992 Olympics, this game was under the full medal category. Also, the competition included men’s as well as women’s doubles and mixed doubles were introduced in the 1996 Olympics.

Competitive badminton all around the world is played indoors because even the lightest of winds can affect the course of the shuttlecock. Also, recreational badminton is played outside and is a famous outdoor activity. The court for badminton is rectangular 13.4 meters long and 5.2 meters wide for the singles match. Also, the net is 1.5 meters high and stretches throughout the width of the court at its center.

Additionally, there is a clear space of 1.3 meters around the court that is needed. The play in badminton consists entirely of hitting and volleying the shuttlecock back and forth across the net. Also, it should be kept in mind that the shuttlecock should not touch the ground or floor within the court boundaries.