59 Interesting Facts About Badminton

Last updated on June 27th, 2023

51. The Physics of the Shuttlecock

Researchers have found that 20 milliseconds after coming in contact with the racket shuttlecocks flip over. And then merely 100 milliseconds later they become perfectly aligned in their new direction of movement.

52. Of Strokes and Strategies

Badminton is a game of strategy, and players use a wide range of strokes to win points. These strokes include serve, forehand, backhand, smash, spin and lob. Blocks and drives are counter attack strokes.

53. Shots Per Second

Badminton is a swift game and professional doubles players are known to hit as many as 40-50 shots in about 20 seconds.

54. Service Pa Excellence

Official badminton rules and regulations allow only one attempt at service. If a player is unable to serve properly, they lose their service.

55. The World’s Best Badminton Player

Lin Dan, or Super Dan as he is often called, is considered the world’s best player. He is a world and Olympic champion, and was the first player to win all nine major championships.

56. Badminton Improves Health and Fitness

Badminton is a fun and invigorating game. It needs focus and concentration, and requires players to think on their feet and execute strokes efficiently. People who play badminton a few times a week enjoy a good workout that keeps the heart and the body strong. It also helps them deal with stress in an effective manner. Badminton can be played by people of all age groups at a pace they enjoy.

57. Badminton Players and Gum Soles

The sport requires players to move quickly and often change direction rather suddenly. It is important that the players’ shoes offer good grip and prevent slips and falls. Gum sole shoes have a far better grip than running shoes, and this is why players prefer them.

indoor badminton court with ample lighting
Indoor badminton courts. Facts about Badminton. Image via shutterstock/zhu difeng.

58. Indoors or Outdoors

When played recreationally badminton can be played indoors or outdoors. However, even a slight breeze can alter the movement of the shuttle and it can interfere with the game.

59. Deception is Critical

One of the key aspects of badminton is deception. Players often maneuver and manipulate the speed, direction and spin of the shuttlecock to gain an advantage over their opponents.

After reading these 59 interesting facts about badminton you may be inspired to play the sport. When shopping for a badminton racket bear in mind that a racket that is head heavy makes smashes more powerful. In contrast, a head light racket is more maneuverable.

Badminton Players

1. Kento Momota

Badminton’s World No. 1 man is Japan‘s Kento Momota. He missed his chance at playing in the 2016 Rio Olympics after he was suspended for a year due to illegal gambling. In 2019, the 25-year-old Kagawa native bounced back in a big way. In just 12 months, Momota won 11 titles in men’s badminton, clinching the All England Open, Asia Championships, and World Championships. After the 2020 Malaysia Masters, Momota suffered injuries to his face after an accident. He has since recovered and is poised to compete in the Tokyo Games.

Kento Momota of Japan. badminton players facts
Kento Momota of Japan in action during the Badminton Malaysia Open 2019 at Axiata Arena. Interesting facts about badminton. Image credit – shutterstock/Hafiz Johar

2. Chou Tien-Chen

Chou Tien-Chen is the first player from Taiwan to win the Chinese Taipei Open men’s singles in 17 years. He won gold the Bitburger Open Grand Prix for three consecutive years, which remains a record. He has also won the BWF World Tour title 6 times.

3. Anders Antonsen

Denmark’s Anders Antonsen began playing badminton early at six years old. At 16, he debuted at an international tournament, the 2013 Forza Denmark. Two years later, he became the European Junior Champion. The year after, Antonsen won the Scottish Open Grand Prix, his first. The young Danish player has been plagued by migraine for a few years but it has not stopped him from winning the 2019 World Championship silver medal, losing only to Japan’s Momota Kento.

4. Jonatan Christie

As a child, Indonesia‘s Jonatan Christie wanted to be a competitive swimmer but shifted to badminton instead. He has won gold at the Asian Games, Asia Team Championships, and Southeast Asian Games. He currently ranks 7th in the BWF’s men’s singles.

5. Ng Ka Long Angus

Angus Ng Ka Long is the No. 1-ranked player in Hong Kong, with a current world ranking of 8th in men’s singles. He has bested an impressive list of badminton champions, including Chou Tien Chen, Chen Long, and Lin Dan. He clinched his first Grand Prix in 2015 at the Bitburger Open. He became the first Hong Kong native to capture the gold at the Hong Kong Superseries men’s singles.

6. Srikanth Kidambi

India‘s pride, Srikanth Kidambi, was ranked 240 in 2012. A year later, he ranked 13th. He underwent intensive training with Pulella Gopichand, the same man who runs a badminton training school in Hyderabad and coaches the national team. Kidambi idolized Lin Dan for years. Eventually, he won the China Open 2014, scoring over his sports idol. In 2018, he became the world number 1 men’s badminton player

7. Rasmus Gemke

Rasmus Gemke joined Denmark’s national U-19 team and won bronze at the European Jr. Badminton Championships in 2015. His international debut was at the Belgian International tournament a year later. He has won the Spain Masters, the Bitburger Open, the Finnish Open, and the Azerbaijan International. Gemke was the recipient of the Comet of the Year Award in 2012 from Badminton Denmark.

8. Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal, the child of badminton-playing parents, is the only female Indian badminton player to rank No. 1. She was also the first badminton player from the country to win an Olympic medal. She was also the youngest player from Asia to top the Philippines Open, a four-star tournament, at 16. Nehwal is also the first female to clinch the Asian Satellite Badminton Tournament twice. Nehwal also has a brown belt in karate.

9. P.V. Sindhu

Pusarla Venkata Sindhu began playing international tournaments in 2009 and ranked World’s no. 2 in 2017. She made history as the first female player from India to win a World Championships medal. She is also the first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver in a singles match and gold at the World Championships. She landed Forbes’ list for two consecutive years as one of the highest-paid female athletes. Spain’s Carolina Marin considers Sindhu her toughest rival.

P. V. Sindhu of India, Badminton players fact file
P. V. Sindhu of India talks to the press during the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2019 Preview. image credit – shutterstock/Karunesh Johri

10. Lee Chong Wei

Malaysia’s pride, Lee Chong Wei, is considered one of the greatest badminton players in the world. Lee held the top spot for the most titles won (10) in 2010 – a record broken only by Japan’s Momota Kento in 2019. He was awarded Olympian of the Year thrice – in 2008, 2012, and 2016. He also holds the fastest recorded smash in the Hong Kong Open – an impressive 408 km/h.

11. Lin Dan

Lin Dan’s talent was noticed when he played for the People’s Liberation Army Sports Team. This led him to become part of the Chinese national team at 18. From there, Lin set record after record, becoming the first badminton player to keep his Olympic title in the sport after besting his rival, Malaysia’ Lee Chong Wei in the 2008 and 2012 Games. To date, Lin is the first and only badminton player to clinch the Super Grand Slam, winning all major open titles in the sport.

12. Carolina Marin

Before becoming a world-class shutter, Carolina Marin had her heart set on becoming a Flamenco dancer. When she lost her 2012 Olympics bid, she had the image of the Olympic rings tattooed on her wrist for inspiration. In 2016, she won her Olympic gold, becoming the first European badminton player to compete in the women’s singles and win it.

13. Prakash Padukone

Prakash Padukone was one of the sport’s pioneers in his native India, ranking No. 1 in the world in 1980. That year, he also won the All England Open Badminton Championships, becoming the first Indian to do so. He received the Arjuna Award in 1972 and co-founded Olympic Gold Quest to promote Olympic sports in his country.

14. Peter Gade

Peter Gade made sports history after winning the singles title at the 1999 All England Open Badminton Championships and 5 men’s singles European Championships. He was World No. 1 from 1998 until 2001. Gade regained No.1 status briefly in 2006. He also has 22 Grand Prix titles under his belt.

15. Tai Tzu-Ying

Tai Tzu-Ying was just 22 when she attained the World No. 1 ranking in the women’s singles. She won gold in the women’s singles events at the 2017 Summer Universiade and the 2018 Asian Games. She is a remarkable offensive player, a skill that she harnessed to its full potential. She has won two golds and a bronze at the Asian Championships and holds 10 titles at the BWF World Tour.

16. Chen Long

Chen Long is one of the sports’ best defensive shutters. Even the great Lin Dan likened playing against him as “playing against a wall”. The Chinese badminton player holds 29 career titles, winning gold in the Wuhan Asian Championships, Jakarta World Championship, and the Copenhagen World Championship. He also has Olympic bronze and gold medals.

Chen Long of China in action. facts about badminton
Chen Long of China in action during the Badminton Malaysia Open 2019 at Axiata Arena. Interesting facts about badmiinton. Image credit – shutterstock/Hafiz Johari

17. Taufik Hidayat

Taufik Hidayat is one of the most legendary badminton players in the world. He was just 17 when he played at the 1999 YONEX All England Open in 1999 and won the Brunei Open. In 2004, he won gold at the Olympics and topped the World Championship the next year. He has an impressive backhand smash and once clocked 305 km/h with his forehand jump smash against Ng Wei in the World Championships in 2006.

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