Badminton

Badminton is a racket sport in which players hit a shuttlecock over a net. It can be played as singles, with one player on each side, or doubles, with two. Unlike a ball, the shuttlecock has a rounded cork base and a cone-shaped skirt, traditionally made from feathers or synthetic materials. Its unusual shape creates considerable air resistance, so it slows down quickly after being hit and follows a different trajectory from a ball.

A rally begins with a serve, and players try to land the shuttlecock inside the opponent’s court while preventing it from touching their own side. The court is divided by a net, and the boundary lines differ slightly between singles and doubles. A badminton match is generally played as the best of three games.

Under the standard scoring system, a game is won by the first side to reach 21 points, but a side must lead by two points; if the score reaches 29–29, the side winning the next point takes the game. Players use different strokes, including clears, drops, smashes and drives, to change the shuttlecock’s speed, height and direction.

The sport requires quick reactions, precise movement and repeated acceleration, while also demanding balance and coordination. Although a rally can be very short, competitive matches may involve many rapid changes of direction. Regular practice can therefore develop agility, coordination, reaction speed and cardiovascular fitness, especially when training includes sustained movement.