BADMINTON

Summary of the event. What actually happens?

There is more then one event in badminton. There is singles men’s, doubles men’s, mixed doubles, women’s singles and women’s doubles. Sixteen pairs will qualify for each of the doubles events and 64 for each singles event. The players are given an opponent and must try their best to bet them. Then once the game is over they are given another opponent and the hollow thing starts over again. 

What does it feel like to participate?

It is frightening but exhilarating at the same time. You have all those people watching you, but you can’t let the stress get to you or else you start to mess up. If you mess up you often lose confidence so you just have to block everything out. You have to make it so it is just you, the birdie, and your opponent. Victory at any level is the greatest “high” you can get, but it is even more amazing when it is at an Olympic level. 

What kind of training is involved?

Speed, agility and lighting fast reflexes are essential in badminton. It also takes a lot of eye hand coordination, muscular strength, quick foot work, and endurances. The training involved in badminton includes running so that you are quick and have good endurance, and lots of playing against coaches and other team mates. Some players even swim during the time when they are not playing to build upper body strength.  Others compete in high jump so they can jump high.   

What equipment do you need?

For badminton you don’t need a lot of equipment. The main things that are used for a badminton game are a badminton court, a net, posts, badminton racket, and a shuttlecock. The court is the area in which the players play. It is defined by the boundary lines. The net is made of small cord that is usually a dark color like black. The posts are to keep the net standing upright so they don’t fall over. The badminton rackets are light in weight and come in a verity of colors. It is used to hits the shuttlecock over the net. The shuttlecocks, also know as a “bird”, is made of a piece of cork covered by goat skin, it also has 16 feathers coming out of the cork. It can be made from natural materials or man made ones.  

When and where is the event being held during the upcoming Olympics in Beijing?

In the upcoming Olympics in Beijing in 2008 the badminton competitions are being held in the Peking University Gymnasium/The Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium from August 9th to the 12th.