BADMINTON

Badminton is an indoor version of lawn tennis, in that it is played over a net, either ‘singles’ or ‘doubles’, with a similar, but lighter and narrower, racket and a shuttlecock replacing the ball.

The shuttlecock consists of goose feathers about 2 ^1/2 inches long fixed into a half-sphere of cock about one inch in diameter, the rounded end being leather covered.

The doubles court is 44 feet long and 20 feet wide, with a net across the middle hanging exactly 5 feet above the floor at the center. Singles is played on a restricted area of the doubles court, the width of the court being reduced to 17 feet.

The shuttlecock is served diagonally, and remains in play as long as it is being kept within the court and off the ground. All shots are volleys. Scoring goes up in single points and only the serving side can score. A server winning a rally advances his score remains the same but the service changes. A game consists of 15 points, and 3 games make a set. The shuttlecock must not bounce and so all strokes must be made on the volley. The object of the feathers is to slow up the speed of the cock base, but when the shuttlecock is struck hard it can travel extremely fast.

Badminton is thought to have originated in India as Poona. It was brought to England in 1873 when it took its present name through association with badminton hall, the seat of the duke of Beaufort, in Gloucestershire

The English badminton association was formed in 1893. After World War 1 its popularity began to spread. The international badminton federation was formed 1934: and the international championships (Thomas Cup) were started in 1948, Malaysia, where the game can be played outdoors, has won the International Championship most times.