Immerse Yourself in the World of Badminton: A Look at the Sport’s Popularity and Origins at the Olympics in Paris 2024

JO PARIS 2024 – You may have discovered it in college. Today, it has become one of the most popular and widely practiced sports across the world. It will be to follow at the Olympics. Immerse yourself in the world of badminton.

What is the origin of badminton in the Olympic Games?

Badminton’s entry into the Olympic Games is relatively recent. Although it has been practiced for centuries, it was only in 1992, during the Barcelona Olympic Games, that it was introduced as an Olympic discipline, after spending two editions as a demonstration sport in Munich in 1972 and Seoul in 1988. Since its entry into the Olympic Games, badminton has captivated spectators with its fast action and spectacular rallies. Thus, although relatively recent in Olympic history, badminton quickly won its place among the emblematic disciplines of the Games.

Who are the best badistas and where do they come from?

If you imagine badminton as a sport largely dominated by China, like table tennis, think again. Although China has two players in the men’s Top 4, the world number 1 is Dane. His name is Viktor Axelsen and has dominated the sport for several years. Winner of the world championships in 2022, he also won Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021. Among the Ladies, the world number one is Korean: An Se Young. Non-medalist in Tokyo, it was the Chinese Chen YuFei, currently second in the world, who won gold. The People’s Republic of China was the most successful NOC with no less than 47 medals, including 20 gold. Indonesia is the second country in the medal table with a total of 21, including eight gold.

In France, the chances of medals are very low even if there will be at least one Blue entered in each discipline. Toma Junior Popov (currently 25th in the world) or Christo Popov (27th in the world), four years his junior, will try his luck in singles. Among the Ladies, the first Frenchwoman is Xuefei Qi, 59th in the world. There will also be a French pair in the men’s doubles tournament, another in the women’s doubles tournament and a last one in the mixed doubles tournament, Delphine Delrue et Thom Gicquel (except injury), current 13th in the world.

What are the rules of badminton?

The game takes place on a rectangular field divided by a net at a height of 1.55 meters. The objective is to pass the shuttlecock over the net so that it touches the ground of the opposing camp. Each game is played in two winning sets. Points are scored in each rally and the game continues until a player or team reaches 21 points (with a difference of two points) to win a set. In the event of a tie at 20 points, play continues until one player or team gains a two-point advantage. Players must serve diagonally, with the shuttlecock in front and below the waist. The player who just won the previous point serves.

Strict rules govern fouls, shooting outside the court, into or under the net, but also touching the net with the racket or body or hitting the shuttlecock before it has crossed the net to the server’s side. In the event of a fault, the opponent scores a point and the service changes sides. Players must be quick, agile and strategic, using a variety of shots such as the smash, drop shot and lob to dominate the game. Precision and timing are essential to succeed on the court.

Badminton vocabulary

In the badminton lexicon, several specific terms are commonly used to describe the actions and techniques specific to this sport. Among them, the « smash » represents a powerful shot struck up and down to send the shuttlecock quickly towards the opponent’s ground, often used to score points decisively. THE «service» represents the action of throwing the shuttlecock into the air and hitting it to start the rally, while the ” flying “ is the main item used in the game, consisting of a cork base and feathers.

Key dates to remember for the Olympics

The badminton tournament will take place at the Arena Porte de la Chapelle, located in the north of Paris, between July 27 and August 5. The mixed doubles final will take place on Friday August 2. That of the women’s doubles on August 3. On Sunday, August 4, the semi-finals of the singles tournaments and the men’s doubles final will take place. Finally, on Monday August 5, the final day of this tournament will be devoted to the finals and small finals of the men’s singles and women’s singles.

2024-03-07 14:31:15
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