Last updated: June 27, 2023, by the editorial board.
Badminton is a court game played with lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock. It can also be played on lawns. This game was officially played for the first time at the Badminton country estate in Gloucestershire, England, the residence of the Dukes of Beaufort.
Games similar to badminton were common around the world, in countries such as India and China. In the 1860s, British officers stationed in India began playing it with rackets. As a pastime, it was played outdoors during the cooler hours of the summer.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) was founded in 1934, making it one of the oldest international sports federations. The BWF organizes badminton competitions worldwide.
The World Badminton Championships have been held since 1977 and are held annually, except during Olympic years. The World Badminton Federation has 198 members worldwide, making this sport one of the most popular.
Badminton's popularity has grown over the centuries, and it's now a competitive game. Here are 59 interesting facts about badminton.
1. The fastest racket sport in the world.
Badminton is the fastest racquet sport in the world, with shuttlecocks capable of traveling at speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour. The record for fastest competitive badminton slam is held by Dane Mads Peeler Kolding. His slam was recorded at 426 kilometers per hour during a 2017 Premier League Badminton match in Bangalore, India.
2. Evolution of the shuttlecock
Badminton was originally called shuttlecock. It is played with rackets and a shuttlecock, traditionally made from sixteen goose feathers.
3. What does a name contain?
The shuttlecock used in badminton gets its name from the back-and-forth motion it moves during play. This motion is similar to the motion of a shuttle on a loom. Since the shuttlecock, with its sixteen feathers, resembles a chicken, this is where the word "rooster" comes from.
4. Light weight
The shuttlecock used in badminton weighs about five grams and is one of the lightest sports equipment.
5. Keep an eye on the bird.
The shuttlecock is often called a birdie or a little birdie.
6. A sport with many names
This sport is known by many names, including "battledore" and "badminton." It was often played by British officers stationed in the Indian garrison city of Pune, where it was appropriately named "Pune.".
7. From balls of wool into goose feathers
Initially, this game was played with balls of wool and was called ball badminton. This allowed players to play even in windy and rainy weather. Over time, rules were established, and the use of a shuttlecock was also permitted.
8. Scoring system
Badminton matches are played best of three. The first team to score 21 points, with a two-point lead, wins. The first team to win two out of three sets also wins.
When the score reaches 29-29 in each team's favor, the game goes into a best-of-one round to determine the winner. The first team to fail to score a point loses.
In 2006, the scoring system in badminton changed: instead of 3 sets of 15 points each, there are now 2 sets of 21 points.
9. Dimensions of the site
The length of a badminton court is 44 feet (13.4 meters). The height of the net at the edges is 1.55 meters (5 feet 1 inch), and in the center it is 1.524 meters (5 feet). The width of the sidelines is 0.76 meters (2 feet 6 inches).
In doubles badminton, the playing area is 20 feet (6.1 meters) wide. In singles badminton, the playing area is 17 feet (5.18 meters) wide.
10. Sports at your pace
Competitive badminton is a fast and intense game, requiring spectators to focus on the shuttlecock's movements. However, the game can also be played leisurely and recreationally. In unstrung badminton, the shuttlecock moves naturally across the court.
11. The first official club
The first official badminton club was founded in Bath, England, in 1877. It was called the Bath Badminton Club. The club standardized the rules of the game, which were later recognized and published by the Badminton Association of England.
12. First official game
Although badminton had been played informally for many years, the first official game is believed to have been organized and played in Badminton, Gloucestershire, England. Official recognition of the game was achieved at the Duke of Beaufort's estate.
13. Mixed Match
Unlike tennis, where a doubles match involving men and women is called mixed doubles, in badminton it is called a mixed match.
14. Badminton at the Olympic Games
Badminton was recognized as a full Olympic sport with medal counts in 1992 for men's and women's singles, as well as doubles matches. Prior to that, it was included in the program as a demonstration sport in 1972 and as an exhibition sport in 1988. Mixed-sex matches were permitted in 1996.
The Olympic badminton tournament includes five different categories: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
15. All eyes are on badminton
The first televised Olympic badminton match was watched by 1.1 billion viewers.
16. The shortest badminton match
The shortest badminton match lasted just six minutes. It took place in 1996 at the Uber Cup in Hong Kong between South Korean Ra Kyung-min and British player Julia Mann.
17. Guinness World Record in Badminton
Polish badminton players Bartłomiej Szczerba and Janusz Stachon-Gol hold the Guinness World Record for the longest marathon singles match, which lasted 26 hours, 28 minutes, and 20 seconds.
18. The world's longest international badminton match.
The world's longest international badminton match took place at the Asian Badminton Championships. The women's doubles semifinal lasted two hours and forty-one minutes, pitting Japan's Kurumi Yanao and Naoko Fukuman against Indonesia's Gracia Poli and Nitya Krishinda Maheshwari.
19. A rally that surpasses all other rallies.
The longest rally in badminton lasted 211 shots. The match took place between Japan and Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur as part of the 2023 Malaysia Masters tournament. After 48 minutes of intense play, Malaysia emerged victorious.
20. Badminton with feet
Badminton is believed to be based on similar games popular in India and China. The Chinese game Ti Jian Ji is a badminton played with the feet rather than rackets.
21. The world's largest shuttlecock
An eighteen-foot-tall shuttlecock made of aluminum and fiberglass has been installed and displayed on the lawn of the Kansas City Museum of Art. Weighing approximately three tons, it was crafted by Claes Oldenburg and Koosje van Bruggen.
22. The second most popular game
Badminton is second only to football in popularity. It is estimated that over 220 million people play the sport worldwide.
23. In Asia since 1962.
The Asian Badminton Championships is an annual tournament held since 1962, featuring the best players from Asia. The championships are organized by the Badminton Asian Federation under the auspices of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
24. Badminton in the Commonwealth countries
In 1966, badminton was first included in the Commonwealth Games program in Jamaica. Only 11 countries participated in the badminton competitions, with each country limited to four men and four women.
25. Longest singles match.
The longest singles badminton match took place between Peter Rasmussen (Denmark) and Sun Jun (China) at the 1997 World Championships in Glasgow. The match lasted 124 minutes.
26. Most counterattacks in a minute.
In August 2020, Jenny Moore and Greg Mairs, both from Great Britain, set the record for the most counterattacks in badminton in one minute, hitting a total of 161.
27. Half a million dollars in prize money
The BWF Super Series is a prestigious badminton tournament with a total prize fund of US$500,000 for each event.
28. First time in America
In 1977, the first match of the regional tournament for the Americas took place, held within the framework of a league called the Panoramic Badminton Championships.
29. Most consecutive weeks as world number one.
Malaysian tennis player Lee Chong Wei holds the record for the most consecutive weeks spent at number one in the men's singles world rankings, with a total of 199 weeks.
30. FIFA U-19 World Cup.
The BWF World Junior Badminton Championships, held since 1992, is an annual tournament showcasing the talents of young badminton players aged 19 and under.
31. The best feathers for a shuttlecock
It is said that the best feathers for a shuttlecock come from the left wing of a goose. Aerodynamic experts say , What A shuttlecock made from 16 feathers from the left wing spins clockwise when struck.
32. The right wing is wrong.
A shuttlecock made from the feathers of a goose's right wing spins counterclockwise when struck. This disrupts play, and the shuttlecock is likely to be thrown out. The combination of right and left wing feathers makes the shuttlecock's movement unpredictable.
33. Gutting
The standard length of string used to wind a badminton racket is ten meters.
34. Badminton rackets
Modern badminton rackets are made of steel, aluminum, graphite, and boron. They should be no more than 68 centimeters long and 23 centimeters wide. They should weigh approximately 85-90 grams, but no more than 100 grams.
35. U and G in badminton
When choosing a badminton racket, you'll notice that they are marked with the letters U and G. The U represents the racket's weight, and the G represents its length.
36. Badminton court lines
The lines on a badminton court are 40 mm wide and are painted white or yellow to make them easy for players to recognize.
37. The fastest recorded object in sports.
The shuttlecock may be small and light, but it can move incredibly fast. In 2013, during racket testing, a shuttlecock was recorded traveling at 493 kilometers per hour. The record was set by Malaysian tennis player Tan Boon Heong.
38. The world's oldest badminton tournament
The All England Open is the oldest badminton tournament in the world, first organised in 1898. It is popularly known simply as the All England Championships.
39. National game
Badminton is the national sport of Indonesia.
40. Climate conditions matter.
Badminton competitions are traditionally held on indoor courts. The shuttlecock's motion is affected by weather, temperature, and altitude. In cold weather, the shuttlecock moves slowly, while in hot weather, it moves faster. In an air-conditioned room, the shuttlecock flies slower, while at higher altitudes, it moves faster.
41. Turning over the feathers
To change the shuttlecock's speed, players tilt the feathers inward. When the feathers are tilted inward, the shuttlecock speeds up. Conversely, to slow the shuttlecock down, the feathers should be tilted outward.
42. Traveling in Miles
On average, a shuttlecock is hit over 400 times in a single international badminton match. Often, up to ten shuttlecocks are used. Tracking the distance they travel in a single match would amount to several miles.
43. Badminton in America
Although the sport originated in the United States in the 1890s, it took nearly six decades for it to gain popularity.
44. Thomas Cup
The Thomas Cup, also known as the Men's World Team Championship, was first held in 1948 and then every three years until 1982. The schedule was changed, and it is now held every two years. Since the tournament's inception in 1848, only six countries have won the prestigious Thomas Cup: China, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Denmark, and India.
45. Uber Cup
The Uber Cup, established in 1956, is the equivalent of the premier international team tournament in women's badminton. The cup itself was donated by the 1956 badminton champion, Mrs. H.S. Uber, hence the tournament's name.
The Uber Cup, or Women's World Team Championship, was first held in 1956, after which it was held on a three-year hiatus. In 1984, the schedule was changed to align with the Thomas Cup. The two competitions are currently held jointly.
China has become the most successful country in the Uber Cup, winning the tournament 15 times as of 2021. Their 15th victory came against Japan, 3-1.
46. Network
Players must not touch the net dividing the badminton court, nor must their rackets touch it. The net is attached to two posts and must be five feet high.
47. The winning moment
The badminton scoring system is simple and straightforward. If the shuttlecock touches the opponent's court, a point is awarded. 21 is the winning point. If the score is 20-20, the winning point is 22. The winner must have a two-point advantage over the opponent. The first player to reach 30 points wins. A match consists of three sets.
48. Underarm insert for maintenance
Players are only allowed to serve from below the waist. Overhand serving is prohibited.
49. Badminton Giants
Indonesia and China have won 70% of all Badminton Federation competitions. The International Badminton Federation has over 150 members.
50. Stories of Badminton Players' Courage
Modern badminton players mostly use synthetic strings, but centuries ago, strings were made from the dried stomach lining of animals like cats and cows. Some players still prefer traditional strings.
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