| Badminton became a professional sport in the 1980s. It is also a Commonwealth and Olympic sport.
Players use a racquet to strike a leather-covered, cork-topped shuttlecock over a net into the opponent's area. Points are won when the opponent(s) fails to return the shuttlecock.
The playing area measures 14,31 m x 5,18 m for singles and 14,31m x 6,1 m for doubles. The net sits at the halfway point of the court. It is 1,55 m high at either post.
A badminton match is played over three games. After the toss of a coin prior to the first game (the winner may serve first or choose an end to play from), playing begins. Only the serving side can score points. To win a game, sides must score 15 points (in doubles and men's singles) or 11 points in women's singles. - (AFP)
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