A relative newcomer to Olympic competition, the sport of badminton is a racket game in which players volley a goose-feathered, cork-tipped shuttlecock over a 5-foot net. In addition to fast reflexes, the sport requires tremendous physical ability, mental toughness and endurance as players dart around the court for a thunderous smash or lunging save.
Badminton is played by two players (singles) or two pairs (doubles). The object of the game is to hit the shuttlecock over the net and onto the opponent's side of the court without having it returned. Only the serving side can score points. Games are played to 15 points in men's singles and all doubles competitions and to 11 points in women's singles. Each match is the best of three games.
In the late stages of a tied game, a player may "set" the game to extend play. If the score is tied at 13 (or 9 for women's singles), the player reaching 13 first has the option of "setting" the game to 5 (3), meaning the first player to score 18 (12) rather than 15, wins the game. Likewise, players tied at 14 (10 for women's singles) may set the game to 2, extending play until one of the players reaches 17 (or 12 for women). If a player defers from setting the game, play continues until the first player or pair reaches 15 (11) to win the game.
At the start of a match, service is decided by the tossing of a coin. The winner has a choice of service or side of the court. For doubles games, the two sides must nominate both server and receiver.
Unlike tennis, players have only one opportunity for a legal serve. On the serve, the server must hit the shuttle from below his or her waist into the diagonally opposite court. A serve hitting the top of the net and going into the correct court is legal and is "in play."Players serve from and receive in their right-hand service court when the server's score is "love" or on an even number of points, and from the left-hand side when the server has an odd number of points. Players change sides after each game and when the score reaches 8 points (6 for women) in the event of a deciding third game. In doubles play, either player in a pair may hit the shuttlecock following the serve and return.
As in many racket sports, the strategy for scoring points includes forcing the opponent out of position and then hitting the shuttle to an open spot. In singles, the goal is to keep the opponent quickly moving back and forth across the court, using deception and fatigue to force errors.
In doubles, the goal is to smash the shuttlecock down to the opponents, forcing them to defend by returning the shot up. On offense, the rule is one player at the net and the other smashing from the backcourt. Defending players will both play sides, each covering the play on their side of the court. Players are constantly looking to force the opponent to error. In doubles, teamwork is essential to a winning strategy. The average rally is about 10 hits, although it is not unusual for some rallies to have 40-50 hits.
There are four types of badminton officials. Each has a different function during the competition.
The referee is the final authority of a tournament or event, responsible for all matches and matters relating to playing the event.
The umpire is in charge of specific matches, the court and its immediate surroundings. The umpire reports directly to the referee.
The service judge calls service faults made by the server.
The line judge indicates whether a shuttlecock is "in," "out" or "unsighted."
Faults can occur while serving or receiving and during play. Here is an idea of just some of the things to look for.
The shuttlecock is hit above waist level when serving.
The serving player's feet are in the wrong court or moving before the serve.
The head of the racket is higher than the lowest part of the hand holding it when serving.
The shuttlecock lands outside the court.
A player is in the wrong court to serve or receive.
A player plays out of turn.
A shuttlecock is hit into the net.
A player or pair hits the shuttlecock twice in succession.
A player reaching over the net.
A player makes contact with the net or posts with body, racket or clothing.
A player is struck by the shuttlecock.
All badminton tournaments are played indoors on a court with a non-slip surface. The badminton net stands 1.5m (5 ft.) high at the center of the court. The court is 13.4m (44 ft.) long for both singles and doubles matches and 5.2m (17 ft.) wide for singles, 6.1m (20 ft.) for doubles.
The playing equipment is a racket and a shuttlecock. Traditionally made from wood, modern rackets are very light, weighing 85 - 140g (3.5 oz.); are made of graphite or carbon fiber, and are strung at 8.5 - 9 kg (19 - 30 lbs.) with gut or synthetic string. Tennis rackets, by comparison, are strung at 25 - 32 kg (55 - 70 lbs.).
The shuttlecock in major international tournaments is usually made of 16 goose feathers, attached to a cork tip covered with goat skin. The weight (4.74 - 5.5g / 17 - 19 oz.) of the shuttlecock determines the speed. The heavier the shuttlecock, the faster it flies, especially in higher temperatures and at higher altitudes. In elite competition, the velocity of the shuttlecock (also known as the birdie) hit by Olympic-caliber players, has been measured at 320 km (200 miles) per hour. Not surprisingly, a shuttlecock will disintegrate over the course of a match and is usually good for just two or three rallies.
This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for
the Olympic Games Sports Publication Department. Written by Howard
Thomas.
| The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July). |