Last updated on July 14th, 2024 at 04:31 pm
Badminton
Badminton is a very popular racket game played by all categories of male and female in the singles and doubles group. It is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net.
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History of Badminton
It was played in the royal courts of England till 1873. It was inspired by an Indian game ‘Poona’. It spread rapidly with publication of its rules by ‘Colonel Selby’ in 1867.
The English Badminton Federation was founded in 1893 and it conducted the first All England Championship in 1899 (one of the most prestigious tournaments in the international circuit).
The Thomas Cup (for men) and Uber Cup (for women), two other famous tournaments were started in 1948 and 1956 respectively. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) was formed in 1934. Badminton is very popular in south-east Asia.
In 1962 Asian Games, it was firstly included at Jakarta. Thailand and Malaysia have produced many top players. The World Championship has been held every two years since 1977.
Badminton became an Olympic Game in 1992 at Barcelona. Badminton Association of India (BAI) regulates the team selection, training and coaching to Indian players.
India has also produced many good players like Prakash Padukone, Aparna Popat, Pullela Gopichand, Syed Modi and Saina Nehwal.
Latest Rules of Badminton
- In this game, the player hits the shuttlecock back and forth over the net with a racket.
- Badminton is played in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
- There are two ways to win a rally, getting the shuttlecock to hit the opponent’s side court or forcing the opponent to commit a fault.
- A fault occurs when the shuttlecock is hit out of bounds, touches the court, does not go over the net, touches a player or his clothes, infringement of rules, etc.
- A game consists of 21 points continuous scoring, in the best of three games (all categories according to new rules).
- In case of tie at 20th point, the difference of two points will be considered for deciding the game.
- Continuous point scoring is followed according to new rules; the player who is serving if loses the rally, then he will lose the right to serve as well as one point.
- The points are told as ‘Love All’ in the beginning. In singles game, all even points services are done from right side of the half court and all odd points services are done from the left side of own court.
- Change of sides are done after each game and also on the 11th point in the final game
Singles Game : In singles, one player in each half plays and covers the single court area of own half court by hitting the shuttle over the net. He performs all the even points services from the right side of the court to the right side of opponents court like 0, 2, 4, 6, . .
All odd points services are performed from the left side of the court. The service is performed diagonally so that the shuttle should land to the same side in the opponent’s court afterward and can go in the singles court area.
A continuous service is given as long as he is gaining points. Usually a long and high service is performed in singles.
Doubles Game : In doubles games a team of two players each plays against the other. They begin the game with the service from the right side of the court, which is to be lifted only by the same side player in the opponent’s court.
A team who is serving, if wins the rally then rotates the sides for next service from the other side of their own half court. It is to be performed by the same player as long as they are gaining points. Only one player can serve in each team according to new rules.
The strategy of the doubles game is to perform low and short service. Team gets advantage if they play an attacking game. Good combination of teams rotates front and back to get more chances of attacking while the defensive game is played side-to-side.
Measurements And Specifications
- Size of Badminton Court (Singles) = 13.40 m x 5.18 m (44 Feet x 17 Feet) including lines
- Height of Poles : 1.55 m (5 Feet 1 inch) over sideline for Doubles
- Height of Net at Center: 1.52m (5feet)
- Weight of Shuttlecock: 4.74 g to 5.50 g with 16 feathers
- Width of Lines: 4 cm as part of court
- No. of points in Game: 21 point game in best of three for all categories
- Deuce: At 20 all the difference of two points is considered
- Racket: 68 cm long and 23 cm wide head
- Officials: 1 Serviæ Unpir, 4 to 8 Linesmen, 1 Match Referee
- Free Space; 2 meters on all sides of court
- Size of Badminton Court (Doubles): 13.40 m x 6.10 m (44 Feet x 20 Feet) including lines
Terminologies
Side-Gallery : It is the side area between two sidelines of singles and doubles court. This area used in doubles court is also Known as side alley.
Back-Gallery : It is the back area of the court where long service is considered out during doubles games also known as back alley. This area is between two long service lines at the back of court.
Double-Hit : When a shuttle is hit twice in a continuous action, it is a fault.
Foot-Fault : During service both the feet should be stationary, otherwise, it is a fault.
Rally : It is the continuous return of strokes by both the players over the net.
Net-Touch : A player is not supposed to touch any part of the body (including racket) to the net during rally.
Scoring : According to new rules (in March 2006) all categories of singles and doubles are played with the 21 points game in the best of three games. The scoring is in continuous points to both players on each service, if they gain a point.
Service : It is delivery of the shuttle to the opponent court to begin the rally.
Service-Fault : Service is illegal, if it is delivered from above the waist level ; both feet not stationary at the time of delivery ; delivered from the wrong side of court ; wrong player delivers the service.
Game-Point : It is the last point in the game by which the game winner is decided.
Match-Point : It is the last point in the deciding game by which the match winner is decided.
Service-Court-Error : If a player delivers the service from the wrong side of the court then it is given to the opponent.
Forehand : It is playing the strokes from the right side of the body (for right handed players).
Backhand : It is playing the strokes from the left side of the body (for right handed players).
Testing-Mark : A special mark over the sideline of doubles court to check the flight of the shuttlecock. If the shuttle lands within this mark then it is the correct shuttlecock. It must be hit hard from the long service line for singles from the opposite side of the court between the testing marks.
Let : It is a redelivery of the same point. It is called by Umpire due to unforeseen situations like, Umpire is unable to see the landing of shuttles fault at both sides of the players simultaneously; if receiver is not ready; shuttle breaks during rally ; lighting goes during rally ; interruption or object fall during rally ; shuttle hangs over the top of net.
Waist-Fault : During service the shuttle has to be delivered below the waist level. Otherwise, waist fault is given. If service is delivered above the waist level.
Footwork : It is a specialized stepping performed by the player by which he covers the whole court. A good player usually covers all sides of the court in one step from the center.
Long-Service : A variation of service in which a high and long service is delivered in the opponent’s court close to the end line. It is usually performed in singles.
Short-Service : A variation of service in which a slow service is delivered which lands just close to a short service line. It should be as low as possible, i.e., just touching the net. It is usually performed in doubles game.
Reverse Hand Service : A player delivers the service with a backhand close to the body. It is usually performed by good players.
Net-Drop : A drop which is placed from close to the net on the opponent’s side. It makes an inverted ‘U’ shape. It is also known as hairpin drop.
Drive : A variation of forehand stroke in which the shuttle is hit hard but at low height.
Post : The net post over which the net hangs dividing both sides equally. It is just over the sideline of doubles. The height is 5 feet 1 inch (1.55 m).
Net : A mashed cloth which separates the two half sides of the court. The mash size should be so that the shuttle should not pass through it. It is tightened over the net posts. The height of the net at center is 5 feet (1.52 m).
Bird : Another name of the shuttle.
Carry : An illegal shot where the shuttle does not rebound properly. It does not rebound immediately off the racket at the time of contact,
Cross-Court : A shot in which shuttle crosses the net in a diagonal direction.
Server : A player who puts shuttle into play to begin the rally.
Receiver : A player who receives the service.
Deuce : When score is at 20 all on both sides or when score equals at 20th point.
First-Hand : Player performing first service in doubles (now not used).
Second-Hand : Player performing second service in doubles (now not used).
Drop : An offensive stroke hit from deep end which lands close to net.
Love-All : It is the way of scoring in the beginning, i.e., the score is nil at both sides.
Height of Ceiling : Badminton is an indoor game for which the minimum height of the ceiling should be 30 feet.
Hawaii-Court : Artificially made non-slippery (synthetic) surface used for playing badminton.
Duties
Duties of Umpire
- To check the condition of the playing surface and arrange the linesman over different lines.
- both players or teams for the toss and start the game.
- To call out scoring after each point.
- To give decisions as per rules on conflicting points.
- To declare in or out on crucial points with assistance from the linesman.
- To check the flight of shuttle in case of dispute over the flight of shuttle.
- To observe foot fault, service fault, wrong service court, net touch. over the net. etc. and give decisions accordingly.
- To give a break for cleaning sweat.
- To check the spectator, shouts. He sits over the high bench to observe the match carefully.
Duties of Service Umpire
- To check the service fault of the serving player, like waist fault, foot fault, service court error.
- He changes the shuttle on demand of the player, he makes the cleaning of the surface in case of sweat falling over the court.
- He observes the need for a break for cleaning sweat from the racket.
- He assists Match Umpire in taking decisions. Service Umpire sits opposite to Match Umpire at normal height.
Fundamental Skills of Badminton
Service (High) : To begin a rally, service is done from half side of the court to the diagonally opponent’s court. It must be hit below the waist level so that it should reach the end of the opponent’s court.
This service forces the opponent to go to the back of the court. There are many variations of services like short service, drive service, reverse hand service, flick service, etc.
Underhand-Lift or Forehand-Lift : This is the basic defensive skill to lift the shunle in an opponent’s court. It is performed with the forehand push of the racket.
Various strokes of play can be performed in underhand-lift like high lift, drive lift, flat lift, net drop, cross court flick, etc.
Backhand-Lift : is again a defensive skill to clear the shuttle. It is taken with reverse hand push of the racket. This may be net drop or flat push or high lift.
Clear or Toss : This is an offensive as well as defensive stroke, It is taken with overhead swing of the racket to hit the shuttle hard so that shuttle goes deep and back in the opponent’s court, may be high clear or low clear, over the both sides of the court in opponent’s side.
Smash : This is an offensive stroke to stop the rally at once. In this, shuttle is powerfully hit in a downward direction and gives no chance to the opponent to return. Shuttle is hit with a very fast swing of hand just over the head. Shuttle goes steep down in the opponent’s court.
Half-Smash : This is an offensive skill in which a shuttle travels very fast in its own half court but lands close to the net on the opponent’s side. It is a combination of smash and drop as racket is just tilted before the hit which gives spin to the shuttle.
Drop : This is a slow push to the Net-drop shuttle so that it just crosses the net and lands near the net in the opponent’s court. It is taken from a deep position and the shuttle is contacted at the overhead swing of the racket.
Net Drop : It is returning a close drop by placing the shuttle close to net in opponent’s court.
Tap : It is returning a rising shuttle close to net by stepping ahead (close to the net) and placing the racket in the path of the shuttle. Thus, the shuttle lands close to the net in the opponent’s court.
Flat-Return : It is returning the coming shuttle with force, just at the height of net. This skill is also termed as drive. This offensive skill is used mostly in doubles games.
Important Personalities, Tournaments And Venues
National
(a) Arjuna Award Winners : Nandu Natekar (1961), Km Meena Shah (1962), Anup Sridhar (2007), Saina Nehwal, Parul D. Parmar (2009), Jwala Gutta (2011), Ashwini Pomappa, P. Kashyap (2012), P.v. Sindhu (2013), v.Diju (2014), Kidambi Srikanth (2015), Sikki Reddy (2018), B.S. Praneeth (2019), Saturksairaj Ranläreddy, Chirag Shetty (2020).
Dhyan Chand Award : Pradeep Shlürishna, Tripti Murgun (2020).
Dronacharya Award Winners : S. M. Arif, Pullela Gopichand, G.S.V. Prasad (2017), Vimal Kumar 2019).
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award Winners : Pullela Gopichand, Saina Nehwal, P. V. Sindhu, Parmod Bhagat (Para), Krisha Nagar (Para).
International
Susi Susanti, Joko Suprianto, Alan Budikusuma (Indonesia), Zhang Ning, Gao
Ling, Gong Ruina, Lin Dan Chen Long, Yu Yang (China), Park Joo-bong, Kim Moon-soo (S. Korea), Lee Chong Wie (Malaysia), Carolina Marin (Spain), Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark), Nozomi Okuhara (Japan).
Important Tournaments
Thomas Cup, Uber Cup, All England Championship, Asian Championship, World Championship, BF Meet, Olympic Games, National Games, Syed Modi Championship, Tunku Abdul Rehman Cup.
Important Venues
Indira Gandhi Stadium (New Delhi), Prakash Padukone Center (Bengaluru), Hans Raj Stadium (Jalandhar), SAI Stadium Sports Complex (Chandigarh), NIS Badminton Hall (Patiala, Gandhi Nagar, Bengaluru), Sports Center
Also Read: Cricket History, Rules And Measurements
Final Words
From the above article you learnt about rules, history, measurements and many more about Badminton. We hope that you will get success by giving exams based on Badminton.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are India’s achievements in badminton?
Ans:
Indian shuttlers Presently P. V. Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and the doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty are ranked amongst the Top-10 in the current BWF world rankings.
Prakash Padukone was the first player from India to achieve world no. 1 spot in the game, Srikanth Kidambi became the second male player to make it to the top spot in April 2018.
Saina Nehwal is the first female player from India to achieve the no. 1 spot, which she did in April 2015, and the first Indian badminton player to win a medal at the Olympic Games.
P. V. Sindhu is the first Indian to become the Badminton World Champion.
2. When did BWF formed?
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) was formed in 1934.