Badminton as a sport evolved from a form of sport played in Egypt and Germany in the olden days. The British officers stationed India used to play the game of badminton. They took this sport back to their native land where it became a popular sport after some time. Later on the rules and regulations were changed to suit the European needs. Within a short period of time the game spread to countries like Australia, Canada, USA, New Zealand and many parts of Europe.

It is a popular sport played by either 2 or 4 players consisting of two teams. It is played inside a rectangular area called the court. The total area of the court is 44 feet by 17 feet when two players play. The total playing area becomes 44 feet by 20 feet when played by four players. The court is divided into two equal halves and both the halves are separated by two poles with a net fixed in between. The players use lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock while playing the game. Shuttlecock is made with a tiny cork ball on which feathers are attached. These feathers act as the stabilizing factor while the shuttlecock flies towards the other side of the net. Badminton is a court which has similarities with other court games such as volleyball and tennis. The players hit the shuttlecock back and forth and try their best to place the shuttlecock in such a way that he or she is not able to hit it back. In this manner, a player gains a point. The player who garners 15 points is declared the winner. For a woman’s game the maximum point is 11. The players normally play a best of three or five sets. Earlier, badminton was played both indoors and outdoors. But now-a-days, competitive Badminton is only played indoors.

The game of Badminton requires a lot of stamina and exceptional fitness. It is a fast-paced sport which requires more aerobic stamina than other racket sports such as Tennis and Squash. The reaction time for a Badminton player is also faster than the above mentioned racket sports. It is a sport dominated by players from Asia and a few European countries like Denmark. All England Badminton Championship is the most prestigious Badminton Tournament in the world. Besides this, there are team championships for men as well as women. Badminton is also an Olympic discipline having both individual and team medals at stake. Badminton is also popular among fitness enthusiasts as it provides a good cardio vascular work out.