Badminton is a very physical sport where 2 teams consisting of one or two players per team face each other. A net is located in the center of the court and the goal is to launch a shuttlecock in the other side of the net without the other team being to catch it up and it falls between the lines and net.

The shuttlecock (or shuttle) is a feathered projectile whose unique aerodynamic properties cause it to fly differently from the balls used in most racket sports; in particular, the feathers create much higher drag, causing the shuttlecock to decelerate more rapidly than a ball. Shuttlecocks have a much higher top speed, when compared to other racket sports. Because shuttlecock flight is affected by wind, competitive badminton is best played indoors. Badminton is also played outdoors as a casual recreational activity, often as a garden or beach game.

Since 1992, badminton has been an Olympic sport with five events: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles, in which each pair is a man and a woman. At high levels of play, the sport demands excellent fitness: players require aerobic stamina, agility, strength, speed and precision. It is also a technical sport, requiring good motor coordination and the development of sophisticated racket movements.

Badminton has been played since ancient times; an early form of the sport was played in ancient Greece. The modern form of Badminton however can be traced to India, where British military officers stationed in the late 19th century.

Badminton is the world's fastest racket sport, a dozen exchange in a 10 seconds time.