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Badminton Fan Guide Olympic competition dates: Sept. 16-23 Venue: Ross Pavilion, Sydney Olympic Park The outlook Badminton became a full competition sport at Barcelona in 1992. Asian countries won 14 of the 15 medals four years ago. China and Indonesia have captured 70 percent of all championship events since 1934. The finer points How the game is played: All matches are best of three games. The game is won by the player or team first reaching 15 points (or 11 for women's games), scored one at a time by the serving side. If the serving player or side loses a rally, there is no change in score, but the right to serve is lost. If the score reaches 13-13, the side reaching 13 first may decide whether the game will remain at 15 or be set at 18; at 14-14, the alternative is 15 or 17. In women's singles, it is 11 or 12 from either 9-9 or 10-10. Equipment: Rackets typically weigh three to four ounces each and are made of high-tech composites such as boron, carbon, graphic, fiberglass and ceramic. A shuttlecock, just under three inches long and less than two ounces in weight, has 16 goose feathers taken from the identical wing of four geese. The base is cork wrapped in kid leather. Hidden inside is a small metal screw that may be adjusted for weight and altitude considerations. The Associated Press contributed to this report. | |
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