BADMINTON

Badminton is a Racquet sport played by either two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles) who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their Racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their opponents half of the court. A rally ends once the Shuttlecock has hit the ground, and each side may only strike the Shuttlecock once before it passes the over the net.

The Shuttlecock (or Shuttle) is a feathered projectile whose unique Aerodynamic properties cause it to fly differently from the balls used in most Racquet sports; in particular, the feathers create much higher drag, causing the Shuttlecock to decelerate more rapidly than a ball. Shuttlecocks have a much higher top speed, when compared to other racquet sports. Because shuttlecock flight is affected by wind, competitive badminton is best played indoors. Badminton is also played outdoors as a casual recreational activity, often as a garden or beach game.

Since 1992, badminton has an Olympic sport with five events: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles, in which each pair is a man and a woman. At high levels of play, the sport demands excellent fitness: players require aerobic stamina, agility, strength, speed and precision. It is also a technical sport, requiring good motor coordination and the development of sophisticated racquet movements.