There could be 2 answers to “where is badminton played?”. The location and the countries where badminton is popular. I have been playing badminton for many years and I know the answer to this question. Of course, I also did some research so that I can be sure the answers I am going to give you is correct.
In terms of location, badminton is usually played on indoor courts. On the other hand, if you are wondering which countries badminton is often played in, it is mostly Asian countries. That being said, there are also some European countries where badminton is popular.
In this article, I will be enlightening you on the type of courts badminton can be played on and 6 countries where badminton is popular.
Type of Courts Badminton Play In
To get the best experience playing badminton, there is really only 1 court badminton SHOULD be played on and that is synthetic PU courts. However, there are 3 other courts that badminton can play on such as wooden, concrete, and a homemade backyard court.
Playing badminton indoors is preferred because the shuttle used in badminton is very light. Even a light breeze can affect its trajectory. That being said, playing indoors is also the most expensive.
Indoor Courts
Synthetic PU Courts
This is the best option out of all the courts when you want to enjoy badminton to the fullest. Synthetic PU courts are always located indoors and they are usually green in color. Moreover, they have good bounce and contain anti-slip properties.
With this type of surface, your badminton shoes will have good traction on them. Any top badminton players will play on synthetic PU courts and is also a standard for badminton competition at the highest levels. These are the softest courts you can play on so, even if you dive for a shot, you will not get hurt, unlike other courts which I will get to shortly.
Wooden Courts
Wooden courts are second to synthetic PU courts. They have pretty decent shock absorption but are more slippery compare to synthetic PU courts. With the presence of sweat, players can easily slip if they are unaware of when playing badminton.
Wooden courts are often seen in the gym or sports hall, especially in schools. These are usually multi-purpose with other court installed on them, not just badminton. This is why they are not optimal if you want to get the best experience possible for badminton.
Outdoor Courts
Concrete Courts
In some countries where badminton is popular, you can sometimes see outdoor badminton courts. They are usually made of cement and are very rough. If you fall on these courts, you are likely to bleed, depending on how hard you fall so, diving for a shot is a definite no no here.
These courts will have an outline drawn on concrete and the good news is, they are free to play on most of the time. The bad news is, they usually do not come with the net or even if they do, it is in very bad condition. Moreover, they are also going to be very harsh on your precious badminton shoes, wearing the soles quickly.
Backyard Courts
Backyard courts are usually homemade and the cheapest option. The surface can be on anything you want as long as there is sufficient space to install the net. You will not be able to play any serious badminton match on these courts, there are just too many imperfections.
In many cases, these courts do not even have court outlines, all you do is install the net on the ground and start playing. This is great for casual play and just hitting the shuttle with your family or friends for fun. You won’t even need badminton shoes when playing in this type of court because you can’t play with any decent intensity.
Countries Where Badminton Is Often Played
Badminton is a popular sport in many countries but it is especially popular in South East Asia. If you have been to any South East Asia countries, you probably see badminton being played. The countries I will be discussing in this article are China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, and Sweden. This is not listed in any particular order of popularity.
1. China
There should not be any surprises seeing China as one of the countries listed here. After all, some of the best badminton players are originated from China, such as Lin Dan, Chen Long, etc. Badminton is a sport played in schools and colleges all over China.
This sport has brought China multiple Olympic gold medals. They have been one of the best performers in badminton over the past few decades and have reached top places in many international tournaments.
2. Malaysia
If you have any close Malaysian friends, you would surely know badminton is what brings Malaysia together. When Lee Chong Wei, one of the best badminton players in the world, is playing, Malaysians love to gather around and cheer him on.
Lee Chong Wei has also influenced many Malaysians to come to love this sport. Furthermore, the national teams representing Malaysia is also pretty well accomplished in many different national tournaments. Badminton has been playing in Penang (a state in Malaysia) as early as 1925. However, the Badminton Association Malaysia, aka BAM, was only established in 1960.
3. Indonesia
If you go to Indonesia, I’m sure you can easily find some badminton fans. After all, badminton is one of, if not, the most successful sport in the country for a long time. Indonesia has been winning gold medals in the Olympics ever since 1992 and the rest is history. If that is not impressive enough, no men’s team in the world has won more Thomas cups than them.
4. Japan
It might be a surprise to see Japan as one of the countries where badminton is popular. When you think of Japan, you probably think of sports such as sumo wrestling. Well, it is true that badminton is not among the most popular sports in Japan but they are slowly getting more and more popular.
This is largely influenced by their success in international tournaments. Their first ever Olympic gold medal came from Ayaka Takahashi, and Misaki Matsutomo. They won Japan their first women’s double gold medal in the 2016 Rio Sport Olympic.
Because of that, Japan is determined to bring in more gold medals from this sport in the upcoming Olympics.
Fun fact: Japan has been producing more animes based on badminton. This shows how serious Japan is when it comes to badminton.
5. South Korea
South Korea is another country that is pretty into badminton. It is pretty obvious when you see how many top badminton players they have produced over the years. Not surprisingly. Korea has won many medals in the Olympics for doubles and singles.
6. Denmark
Badminton actually foes back all to way to 1925 when a shop owner in Denmark started playing it with his buddies. With the cold winters in Denmark, they discouraged to play any outdoor sports. Badminton comes as a perfect alternative since it is mostly played indoors.
Over the years, there are quite a few Danish players that reached the world’s top rankings in badminton. Peter Gade definitely comes in mind as he is one of the best badminton players in Denmark’s history. There is no doubt that Denmark is in the top 10 list of the strongest countries in badminton.
7. Sweden
In Sweden, outdoor winter sports are extremely popular but for indoor sports, badminton takes the win. Many Swedes make badminton their preferred sports to play when they are indoors. Moreover, they also have leagues and facilities for badminton where there will be people willing to play this sport with you. This makes it very convenient for anyone living in Sweden to enjoy badminton.
Conclusion
In conclusion, badminton is a game mostly played on indoor courts because they give you the best experience. On many occasions, people do play badminton outdoors, mainly because of the cost. It is much cheaper to play outdoors but the price you are paying is your experience and safety.
When it comes to countries that often play badminton, they are mostly located in South East Asia. In fact, they have some of the best players there and are inspiring many to go the same route. There are, however, a few European countries that also love to play badminton and have created world-beaters.
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