How well do you know badminton?
Badminton is hugely popular in Asia and the fastest racket sport on Earth. Six questions, from easy to hard.
Did you know?
- The Thomas Cup, badminton's men's team world championship, was first held in 1948–49 and is named after Sir George Thomas, a leading English player. The women's equivalent, the Uber Cup, began in 1956–57.
- Plastic shuttlecocks are common for recreational play because they last much longer. Feather shuttles are used in professional matches because they fly more consistently, although they break easily and are replaced often.
- Indonesia's Susi Susanti and Alan Budikusuma both won Olympic gold in badminton in 1992. They later married, and they are celebrated as national sporting heroes in Indonesia.
Speed, skill and Asian dominance
Badminton is played by millions around the world, from casual garden games to fast professional matches. It is especially popular in Asia: China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, India and Denmark are among the strongest nations. At the top level it demands speed, agility, stamina and precise control.
A sport of extremes
Because the shuttle slows so quickly, players must cover the court rapidly and change direction constantly. Studies show elite players make hundreds of explosive movements in a single match. This combination of power and finesse makes badminton physically demanding despite its image as a gentle backyard game.
Scoring and formats
Matches are played to the best of three games, each to 21 points using rally scoring, where every rally wins a point. Singles and doubles are played, including mixed doubles. Doubles is especially fast, with rapid exchanges at the net.
Indonesia and China
Badminton is a national passion in Indonesia, which won its first Olympic gold medals in the sport in 1992. China has dominated many international events for decades, producing champions through a strong training system. Matches between top Asian players draw huge TV audiences.
Growing worldwide
Badminton's low cost and small playing area make it accessible in schools and communities. It is one of the most played sports in the world by participation, and new players are joining in Europe, Africa and the Americas as international events and online coaching become more widespread.
Footwork and the net game
Good footwork is the foundation of badminton. Players use small, fast steps and lunges to reach the corners of the court and recover to the centre. Near the net, delicate shots called net kills and spinning net shots can win points instantly, while from the back of the court players use clears, drops and smashes to move their opponent around.