A Leisurely Game Of Badminton You Say?

I play badminton a couple of times a week and often get surprised by people who, upon hearing this, make comments about how it's a "slow" game and that "it's not much of a workout" since "it's more of a leisure sport"!

Sure, just like any other sport you could play a leisurely game of badminton, but it most certainly can be elevated to the utmost competetive level, which is why it's an Olympic sport of course. I'm an okay player, with lots to learn still, hopefully something that's happening based on the competition level of the very good players with whom I compete. Perhaps it can be said I might qualify for "the most improved player" amongst the playing circle we call "Badminton Buds".

Here's some interesting badminton facts for you....

• during a 3 game set of singles badminton against an opponent that is closely matched in skill with myself, my sports watch indicates 10,000 steps ( co-incidentally, that's approximately the same as what I get in a 5 km run )


• badminton requires a combination of agility, endurance and hand eye co-ordination, not to mention finesse, accuracy, deception, and strategy, all based on your ability to read and react to your opponents strengths and weaknesses.


• badminton consists of 4 basic strokes, overhead and underarm forhand, and overhead and underarm backhand.


• badminton consists of a multitude of shots including, high deep or shorthand serve, underhand and overhand drop, underhand and overhand clear ( a.k.a. lob), smash, drive, and net-kill.


• during the game, the racquet may not touch the net at anytime.


• the fastest moving object in sports is the shuttlecock, with a record speed of 493 kmph in a set up situation, and 417 kmph in competition play ( both records held by Malaysian national players) 


• badminton is only second to soccer as the most played sport in the world.


• competetive badminton is ruled by Indonesian, Malaysian and Chinese athletes, who win approximately 70% of all matches and are the only three countries to have ever won the Thomas Cup in it's 171 year history. 

P.V. Sindhu in action t the Asian Games 2018

So, the next time you see someone playing badminton, take a minute to stop and watcht eh action and appreciate what's actually involved in a good match.