Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock over the net. The most common forms of the game are "singles" (1 v 1) and "doubles" (2 v 2). Professional games are played on a rectangular indoor court.
Each side may strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. Play ends once the shuttlecock has struck the floor or ground, or if a fault has been called by the umpire/service judge/opposing side.
The shuttlecock is a feathered or plastic projectile that flies from one side of the court to the otehr side. A shuttlecock, commonly referred to as a birdie in America, decelerate rapidly compared to balls in other racquet sports, making badminton the fastest racquet sport in the wprld.
The game developed in British India from the earlier game of "battledore and shuttlecock". European play came to be dominated by Denmark but the game has become very popular in Asia. In 1992, badminton debuted as a Summer Olympic sport with four events: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles and women's doubles. Mixed doubles was added four years later.
At high levels of play, the sport demands excellent fitness. Players require aerobic stamina, agility, strength, speed and precision. It is also a technical sport requiring good motor coordination.