Fast facts about badminton

• About 1,000,000 Americans play badminton at least twenty five times a year.
• The beginnings of Badminton can be traced to mid-18th century British India, where it was created by British military officers stationed there.
• Badminton is an Olympic Sport played first in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
• Only three countries have won the Thomas Cup since it's inception in 1948: Malaysia, Indonesia and China.
• Badminton is by far the world's fastest racket sport.
• At high levels of play, the sport demands excellent fitness: players require aerobic stamina, agility, strength, speed and precision.
• The International Badminton Federation (IBF) (now known as Badminton World Federation) was established in 1934.
• Only four countries have won the Uber Cup since its inception in 1956: USA, Japan, China and Indonesia.
• Badminton is the second most popular sport in the world, after football (soccer).
• A badminton player can cover more than two kilometers in just one match.
• Sixteen feathers are used to make a shuttle.
• Because shuttlecock flight is affected by wind, competitive badminton is played indoors.
• The 2 most successful badminton countries are Indonesia and China which between them have won 75 percent of all IBF events.
• The American Dave Freeman has not lost a singles match from 1939 until his retirement in 1953.