Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Points are scored by striking the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the opposing side's half of the court. Each game is played to 21 points, with players scoring a point whenever they win a rally regardless of whether they served. A match is the best of three games.

Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. Play ends once the shuttlecock has struck the floor or if a fault has been called by the umpire.

The shuttlecock is a feathered or (in informal matches) plastic projectile which flies differently from the balls used in many other sports. Shuttlecocks have a high top speed compared to the balls in other racquet sports. The flight of the shuttlecock gives the sport its distinctive nature.

Badminton and tennis techniques differ substantially. The lightness of the shuttlecock and of badminton racquets allow badminton players to make use of the wrist and fingers much more than tennis players. Badminton players can generate power from a short racquet swing. For strokes that require more power, a longer swing will typically be used, but the badminton racquet swing will rarely be as long as a tennis swing.

The game developed in British India from the earlier game of battledore and shuttlecock. The game has become very popular in Asia, with recent competitions dominated by China. Since 1992, badminton has been a Summer Olympic sport.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org