Drafts bother badminton players

The smallest detail influences the turn of matches involving high-class athletes. Powerful, cold drafts can confuse the trajectory of badminton shuttlecocks as they twirl from one end of the court to the other.

These winds, commonly referred to as “drifts” between badminton players, are caused by strong air conditioning and the drafts that are created when warm, humid air from outside collides with cool air inside. interior.

“Drifts” can sweep the sides, top, or bottom of the steering wheel, deflecting its path. The current can, for example, cause a shuttlecock to land in the net, in the middle of the pitch, or to fall outside the boundary lines.

However, this problem cannot be solved by turning off the air conditioning. Sweat, when it gets on the racquets, in the eyes and on the floor, can be as problematic as the wind.

The problem of “drifts” goes back to the beginnings of the history of modern badminton, invented in England in the 19^e century.

The multifunctional pavilion Riocentro, where the badminton events of the Rio Olympics are held, however, attracts many criticisms. Many believe that the place was not designed with the idea that this type of sport would be played there.

Drafts are generally better controlled in badminton halls frequented by high class athletes.

The intensity of the “drifts” varies from one court to another in the Riocentrio, according to several badminton players, and even from one plot to another. The three pitches in the center of the clubhouse would be the worst when it comes to unwanted winds.

Players, with experience, learn to adapt to this factor. Athletes who compete in badminton competitions in Asia, where the heat and humidity create significant drafts, are generally experienced.

Other athletes prefer not to think about this constant. “I don’t want to worry about something that’s out of my control,” said Dane Jan O. Jorgenson, the fifth badminton player in the world.