3 Interesting Facts About Badminton
There are many fascinating facts about badminton, yet here are three of the most unique and fantastic trivia about the sport.
Fastest Recorded Object in sports
During the testing of the new racket technology in 2013, Tan Boon Hoeng from Malaysia established the new world record of the badminton smash at a speed of 493 km/h. Furthermore, Lee Chong Wei also set out the new world record for the fastest smash in badminton during the finals of the 2017 Japan Open, at a speed of 417 km/h, which had his speed recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. These records set the shuttlecock, also known as the badminton birdie, a record-holder for the fastest recorded object in sports.
The Shortest and Longest Matches
Would you believe it if the shortest match in badminton lasted only six minutes? South Korea’s Ra Kyung-Min beat England’s Julia Mann in the Uber Cup of ’96 with 11-1 vs. 11-2. Their match was the shortest ever played in the history of badminton. On the other hand, a 161-minute game between Kurumi Yonao of Japan and Naoko Fukuman of Indonesia in the women’s doubles semi-finals of the 2016 Badminton Asian Championships holds the record for the longest match.
The Shortest and Longest Matches
Some shuttlecocks are now made from various synthetic materials. However, the original and quality shuttlecocks are made from the left wings of the goose and only the left. But why not the right?
This is all because of one aspect in science: aerodynamics. According to the deputy president of the Badminton World Federation, Paisan Rangsikitpho, the geese’s wing curvatures have variances that give off different spins in the shuttlecock. When all the 16 feathers of the left-wing are gathered, it creates a clockwise-spinning shuttlecock. However, if you use the right-wing feathers, your shuttlecock will spin in the other direction.
Badminton shares a lot of interesting facts I bet you have not heard before. The sport has a lot to offer, both to athletes and beginners. Whether in athletics or leisure, why not give it a try?
You may also like
