Category Archives: Badminton
Badminton Bravado
It was very common to see two things in my backyard when I was a young boy, and especially during family reunions — a badminton set and a croquet set.
They are great summertime games which our family played together regularly; and both are wonderful examples of games that span the generations. Most every age can play, and the games can get as intense as needed for players of any skill level. They are both games that kids don’t outgrow.
My memory of badminton involves a soft, airy and gentle birdie (or shuttlecock) moving back and forth over the net. Every now and then, someone would throw in a confident overhand and pick the pace up a bit; but generally, it was a game of leisure. A lawn game. We didn’t take badminton too seriously. As a result, it was always fun for everyone in our family, regardless of their age.
Later in life, I learned that badminton is a serious sport for some and can get rather intense.
Badminton had its debut at the 1992 Summer Olympics and has been contested in 5 Olympiads. 50 different nations have appeared in the Olympic badminton competitions, with 19 appearing all 5 times. It is governed by the Badminton World Federation.
To date, China has dominated the Badminton table.
Today, I discovered a good example that contrasts the way that my family and I played badminton in our backyard.
