Badminton is a recognizable sport for many. Who hasn’t missed a shuttle at the campsite or during a summer afternoon? But did you know that badminton is much more than a recreational activity? It is one of the fastest, most intensive racket sports in the world and has a strong place on the international sporting stage. Time to put this impressive sport in the spotlight!
Badminton as a world sport
Badminton is extremely popular worldwide. The sport is practiced in 138 countriesall of which are affiliated with the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Estimated to play well 100 million people regular badminton. In countries such as Great Britain there are already more than five million active players, but in China badminton is even the most popular sport: approximately 13% of the population plays there regularly.
Badminton is also on par with other sports in terms of supporters. Major tournaments in countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia often attract more than 15,000 enthusiastic fans. During the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, badminton was even the most watched sport, ahead of athletics. It is estimated that more than voted at the time a billion viewers of!
Badminton: the fastest racket sport
Did you know that badminton is the fastest racket sport in the world? A shuttle can reach speeds of more than 400 km/hwhich requires lightning-fast reaction time from players. By comparison, a smash in tennis has a speed of around 150 mph, but the greater distance from the court gives players more time to react.
Below is an overview of reaction times in different sports:
| Sport | Speed | Distance | Response time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice hockey | 180 km/h | 10 meter | 0.20 seconds |
| Badminton | 200 km/h | 12,7 meter | 0.23 seconds |
| Football | 130 km/h | 11 meter | 0.31 seconds |
| Tennis | 240 km/h | 23,77 meter | 0.35 seconds |
| Baseball | 160 km/h | 18,45 meter | 0.42 seconds |
With such high speeds and short reaction times, it is no wonder that badminton players must have impressive reflexes, speed and strength.
How intense is badminton?
Badminton is not only fast, but also physically demanding. During a three-set match, that average 45 minutes takes, the shuttle is such 20 minutes effective in play. On average, a player changes during that time 350 times of direction and hits the shuttle 400 timesincluding 150 times with a full arm swing. In doubles the pace is even faster: a shuttle often exceeds that within 20 seconds Beaten 40 times.
Compare this to tennis: in the Wimbledon final, the match lasted 198 minutes, of which the ball was in play for only 18 minutes. In a World Badminton World Cup final, the match lasted 76 minutes, but the shuttle was Active for 37 minutes. The intensity of badminton is therefore considerably higher, with players who travel more than 6 kilometers in half the time, and with almost twice as many strokes as in tennis.
Why badminton is unique
Badminton combines speed, precision and physical challenge. It is not only a sport for recreation, but also a demanding top sport that inspires millions of people worldwide. Whether you play for fun or for performance, badminton remains a sport that deserves all the attention.
Have you become enthusiastic? Come visit BC Selecta and experience the dynamics of this beautiful sport yourself. Our training and play times are for both beginners and advanced players. Come try it out and participate!
