Notes

Badminton:

Badminton is a popular racket sport played between two players (singles) or two teams of two players each (doubles). The objective is to hit a shuttlecock (also called a birdie) over the net, aiming to make it land within the opponent's court while preventing it from landing in one's own court.
History:

Badminton has its roots in ancient civilizations and evolved from various forms of shuttlecock games played in different cultures around the world. The modern version of Badminton developed in British India during the 19th century. The sport gained international recognition and was formalized with standardized rules.
Court/Field Specification:

Badminton is played on a rectangular court divided by a net into two halves. The court measures 13.4 meters in length for singles matches and 13.4 meters in width for doubles matches. The net is positioned at the center, reaching a height of 1.55 meters.
Equipment Used:

The main equipment used in Badminton includes rackets and shuttlecocks. Badminton rackets are lightweight and typically made of materials such as carbon fiber or graphite. Shuttlecocks have a rounded rubber base with a skirt made of feathers or synthetic materials.
General Rules:

Badminton follows specific rules and scoring systems. Players must hit the shuttlecock over the net and land it within the boundaries of the opponent's court. The game continues until the shuttlecock touches the ground or is hit out of bounds. Points are awarded when the opponent fails to return the shuttlecock successfully.
Fundamental Skills:

Badminton requires a combination of physical agility, hand-eye coordination, and strategic thinking. Players need to develop skills such as effective footwork, precise racket control, powerful smashes, accurate drop shots, and quick reflexes to succeed in the game.
Important Tournaments:

Badminton has several prestigious tournaments held worldwide. The most prominent event is the Olympic Games, where the best players from different countries compete for gold medals. Other significant tournaments include the BWF World Championships, BWF World Tour Finals, and Thomas Cup (for men's teams) and Uber Cup (for women's teams).
Famous Sports Personalities:

India has produced exceptional Badminton players who have achieved global recognition. Pullela Gopichand, an Indian Badminton player and coach, won the All England Open in 2001 and later became a renowned coach, nurturing talents like P.V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal.

P.V. Sindhu, one of India's most celebrated Badminton players, won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and became the first Indian woman to win the BWF World Championships in 2019.

Saina Nehwal, another prominent Indian Badminton player, reached the World No. 1 ranking in 2015 and has won several international tournaments, including the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

Arjuna Award Winners:

The Arjuna Award, a prestigious sports award in India, has recognized talented Badminton players for their achievements. Notable recipients include Prakash Padukone, who was the first Indian to win the All England Championships in 1980, and Kidambi Srikanth, who had a successful run in 2017, winning four Super Series titles.

Other Arjuna Award recipients in Badminton include Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, who formed a successful women's