Ayrton Oneill
Badminton is a high-speed indoor racket sport that debuted as an official event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The rules of the game are outlined by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), which also governs the sport in the Olympic Games. Olympic badminton consists of a group stage and a single-elimination tournament, with matches played to the best of three games, up to 21 points. The first side to 21 points wins, but if the score reaches 29-29, the first side to score 30 points wins. The sport can be played as singles or doubles, with 40 competitors selected for singles and 16 pairs for doubles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Court dimensions (singles) | 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide |
| Court dimensions (doubles) | 6.1m (20ft) wide |
| Net height | 1.55m (5ft 1in) at the ends and 1.52m (5ft) in the middle |
| Service rules | Must pass the short service line (1.98m/6.5ft from the net) |
| Scoring system | First to 21 points wins a game; two clear points needed if score reaches 20-20; first to 30 points if score reaches 29-29 |
| Matches | Best of three games |
| Point scoring | A point is scored on every serve and awarded to the side that wins the rally |
| Player/team selection | 40 competitors selected for singles; 16 pairs selected for doubles |
| Player/team eligibility | Each NOC can send a maximum of two players/pairs if ranked in the top 16 for singles or top 8 for doubles; otherwise, a maximum of one player/pair |
| Additional player/team eligibility rules | Each of the five continental confederations guaranteed at least two entries in singles and one in doubles |
| Common faults | Hitting the shuttlecock above the waist on a serve; touching the service line during a serve |
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What You'll Learn
Scoring system: win by two points or be the first to 30
Badminton matches at the Olympics are played in a best-of-three-games format. Each game is played until a player or team reaches 21 points. However, if the score reaches 20-20, the game continues until one side achieves a two-point lead, securing their win. If the game reaches 29-29, the first side to score their 30th point wins.
Points are scored on every serve, with the winning side of the rally getting to serve next. In singles, the service side is determined by the server's score. If the score is odd, the server will serve from the left side of the court, and if it's even or zero, they'll serve from the right. In doubles, partners typically stay on their side of the court unless they are the ones serving and have just won a point.
Breaks and ends changes are also part of the scoring system. A 60-second break is provided when the leading scorer reaches 11 points, and a two-minute break is given at the end of each game. Players change ends at the conclusion of the first game and, if necessary, at the end of the second game. In the third game, the change of ends occurs when one side reaches 11 points.
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Court dimensions
The dimensions of a badminton court differ depending on whether the game is singles or doubles. In singles, the court is 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide. For doubles, the width extends to 6.1m (20ft). The net is 1.55m (5ft 1in) high at the ends and 1.52m (5ft) high where it dips in the middle.
A serve must pass the short service line, which is 1.98m (6.5ft) from the net. Beyond this line is another line that runs down the middle of the court, splitting the left and right service courts. There is also a doubles service line 0.76m (2.5ft) in from the baseline. This means that each service court is 3.96m (13ft) long and 2.59m (8.5ft) wide.
Players must change ends under certain conditions. They should change ends at the conclusion of the first game and, if required, at the end of the second game. In the third game, the change of ends occurs when one side reaches a score of 11 points.
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Serving rules
Serving plays a crucial role in the fast-paced Olympic sport of badminton. The rules governing the serve are as follows:
Firstly, the serve must always be underhand, with the shuttlecock, or "birdie", struck below the server's waist. This rule ensures that the serve does not give the server an unfair advantage and allows for a more balanced exchange of rallies.
Secondly, the server must stand in a specific position on the court. In singles, the server starts from the right service court when their score is even and from the left when their score is odd. In doubles, the server always starts on the right and alternates with their partner as long as they keep winning points. The service courts are marked by a centre line and a short service line, with the shuttlecock aimed diagonally into the opponent's service box.
Thirdly, both players must remain stationary until the serve is made. This rule ensures that neither player gains an advantage through early movement and that the receiver has a fair chance to react to the serve.
Fourthly, a point is scored on every serve and is awarded to the side that wins the subsequent rally. If the serving side wins the rally, they retain the serve; if the receiving side wins, they gain the next serve. A point can be won if the shuttlecock hits the ground within the boundaries of the opponent's court or if the opponent violates certain rules, such as hitting the shuttlecock more than once consecutively or touching the net with their body.
Lastly, a “let” can be called during the serve, resulting in a replay without changing the score. A let may be called if the receiver is not ready, if there is an unexpected disturbance, or if the umpire deems the play disrupted.
These serving rules in badminton promote fairness, ensure smooth gameplay, and contribute to the strategic nature of the sport at the Olympic level.
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Common faults
Badminton is a high-speed indoor racket sport that debuted at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992. It can be played as singles or doubles. In singles, the badminton court is 13.41m long and 5.18m wide, and the net is 1.55m high at the ends and 1.52m high in the middle. In doubles, the court is wider, extending to 6.1m.
There are several types of faults in badminton, which can result in losing a point or service. These can be divided into five categories: contact, double hit, service, service received, and over the net foul.
Contact Fouls
Contact fouls occur when the shuttlecock comes into contact with any object or person other than the racket. The only thing the shuttlecock should touch during a game is the racket.
Double-Hit Fouls
Double-hit fouls occur when a player hits the shuttlecock twice in succession. This includes when a player hits the shuttlecock first to get it over the net and then a second time to smash it down. It also includes when teammates both make contact with the shuttlecock simultaneously.
Service Faults
Service faults are the most common type of fault and can occur in several ways. Firstly, a service fault can occur when a player serves from above waist height. This is a common fault for beginners, as it is natural to hold the racquet horizontally when learning the backhand short serve. However, this gives an unfair advantage to the server, so the racquet must be pointing downwards when hitting the shuttlecock. Secondly, a service fault can occur when a player pauses between the backswing and forward swing of their serve. This is often used by club players to upset the receiver's timing, but it is against the rules. Thirdly, a service fault can occur when a player does not serve to the opposite side of their opponent's court. For example, if a player on the left side of the court serves to the left side of their opponent's court instead of the right side. Lastly, a service fault can occur when a player takes too long to serve, which can be seen as an undue delay.
Net Faults
Net faults occur when any part of the player's body or racket touches the net during a match.
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Olympic history
Badminton has been an Olympic sport since its debut at the 1992 Games in Barcelona, although it first appeared as a demonstration sport at Munich in 1972 and was also showcased in Seoul in 1988. The Olympic programme initially featured men's and women's singles and doubles events, with mixed doubles being introduced four years later at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. The number of events has remained the same since.
At Paris 2024, 172 quota places will be awarded for the badminton competitions, with 86 for women and 86 for men. This is the same total as Tokyo 2020. For each gender, 83 quota places will be allocated via direct qualification, one is reserved for the host country, and two for Universality places. A maximum of eight athletes per gender from the same NOC will be allowed to participate. In the men's and women's singles events, NOCs with two or more athletes ranked between 1 and 16 in the 'Paris Ranking Lists' will be awarded two quota places. Otherwise, one quota place is allowed per NOC.
In men's, women's and mixed doubles, the same system is applied, but the two quota places (for four athletes) are awarded to NOCs with two or more pairs ranked between 1 and 8. In each singles event, there will be at least two athletes from each of the five BWF Continental Confederations, provided the player is ranked between 1 and 250. A total of 48 pairs will qualify for the doubles events through the BWF 'Race to Paris Ranking Lists' of 30 April 2024: 16 pairs in each of the men's, women's, and mixed events. In each doubles event, there will be at least one pair from each of the five BWF Continental Confederations.
The Paris 2024 badminton competition will be held from 27 July to 5 August at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena. The group stage will be followed by the knockout phase. In singles, each group winner will advance to the round of 16. In doubles, the top two from each group will go through to the quarter-finals, where they will be redrawn. The five finals will be played over the last four days of the 10-day competition.
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Frequently asked questions
The rules of badminton state that the first side to 21 points wins, with each side needing to be two points ahead to win. If the score reaches 29-29, the first to get their 30th point wins. The birdie, or shuttlecock, must be hit below waist height and served diagonally into the opponent's service box. Players must remain stationary until the serve is made.
In singles, the court is 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide. In doubles, the width extends to 6.1m (20ft). The net is 1.55m (5ft 1in) high at the ends and 1.52m (5ft) high where it dips in the middle.
The birdie is made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. It is cone-shaped, with 16 feathers making up its body. It weighs between 4.74 and 5.5g and is between 62-70mm long.
