Badminton is a popular and exciting sport that many people worldwide enjoy playing. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional player, there are many fun facts about badminton that you might not know. In this blog, we’ll explore some interesting facts about badminton.
Facts about Badminton
Origins of Badminton
We all are curious about the history of badminton. It originated in ancient civilizations like India, China, and Greece. The game was initially called “Poona” in India before it became known as badminton. It gained its name from the Badminton House in England, where it was popularized in the mid-19th century.
Badminton in Olympics
The Olympics is like a huge sports event where athletes from all over the world come to compete and win medals. Badminton joined the Olympics in 1992. It features events for both singles and doubles play, for both men and women. The inclusion of badminton in the Olympics has helped raise its profile and popularity on a global scale.
Badminton is Fastest Racket Sport
Badminton is famous for being the fastest racket sport globally. It is one of the interesting facts about badminton. The shuttlecock can reach incredible speeds. Sometimes exceeding 200 miles per hour (320 kilometres per hour) when hit hard by professional players. This speed adds an element of excitement and challenge to the game.
Shuttlecock’s Unique Design
The shuttlecock is also known as the “birdie”. It is a crucial part of badminton. It’s not like a regular ball, and it has an attractive design with an open cone at the bottom and feathers at the top. The feathers help the shuttlecock slow down and create a unique trajectory when it’s hit. Modern shuttlecocks are usually made from a combination of feathers and synthetic materials.
How Long Does A Shuttlecock Last?
A shuttlecock typically remains usable for 1-2 games for professional players. It might even break from a single powerful shot. In pro matches, you may notice players exchanging shuttles after every few rallies. On the other hand, in matches at beginner levels, where the intensity is lower, their shuttlecocks can remain for around 5-6 games.
Lightweight badminton Rackets
One of the fun facts about badminton is that it has the lightest rackets of all other racket sports in the world. They are usually made from materials like carbon fibre or graphite. This lightweight design allows players to make quick and precise shots.
The Court’s Dimensions
A badminton court is rectangular, and its dimensions are pretty specific. The court is 44 feet (13.4 meters) long and 17 feet (5.18 meters) wide for doubles play. The width remains the same for singles play, but the length is reduced to 33 feet (10 meters). The court is divided by a net that stands 5 feet (1.55 meters) tall at the centre.
Continuous Scoring System in Badminton
In badminton, a unique scoring system is used, unlike some other sports where only the serving team can score points. In badminton, both teams can earn points regardless of who is serving. Games are usually played to 21 points. And the team that reaches 21 points first, with a two-point lead, wins the game.
Longest Rally in badminton
The longest rally in a badminton match happened at Malaysia Masters 2023. It was the 211-shot rally and Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan won the point. This rally showcased the players’ incredible stamina and determination.
Toch the net during a rally.
During a badminton game, players try to hit the shuttlecock over the net. Touching the net with your racket during a rally is against the rules. If a badminton player accidentally touches the net, the opponent gets the point.
Consecutive Hits Rule in Badminton
A notable fun fact about badminton is that the player is not allowed to hit the shuttlecock two times in a row using their racket. If someone does this, it’s considered a “fault,” which means they’ve broken the rules. This rule helps to keep the game balanced and fair.
Fastest smash shot in badminton
The fastest badminton smash on record was hit by Satwiksairaj Rankireddy from India at a speed of 565 km/h on April 14, 2023. While in women’s badminton, Malaysia’s Pearly Tan holds the women’s record for the fastest smash in badminton at 438 km/hour.
Longest Badminton match
The longest badminton match in history lasted for 2 hours and 41 minutes. This happened in the 2016 badminton Asia Championship. In the women’s doubles semi-finals, the teams were Japan’s Kurumi Yonao and Naoko Fukuman and Indonesia’s Greysia Polii and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari.
First Offical Badminton club
The Bath Badminton Club was the first-ever badminton club. It started in 1877 in the city of Bath, which is in the United Kingdom. This club was important because it made the rules of badminton official. The rules they created were later accepted by the Badminton Association of England. The Bath Badminton Club is like the starting point of badminton history.
First Official Badminton Match
People all over the world play badminton in a casual way. But the first official badminton match was played in Gloucestershire, UK. This is where the Duke of Beaufort lived, and that’s where the game became official.
The All-England Championship
The All England Open Badminton Championships stand as one of the oldest and most respectful badminton tournaments in the world. It has been held since 1899 and attracts top players from around the globe. Winning the All-England title is considered a significant achievement in the world of badminton.
Popular in Asia
Badminton in Asia focuses on the sport’s popularity and presence on the continent. It is famous in countries like China, India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Malaysia. These countries have produced some of the world’s greatest badminton players in history.
Conclusion
Playing badminton is fun and full of excitement. I hope these interesting and fun facts about badminton add enjoyment to this exciting sport.