The sport I play is not popular. It involves a racket and a shuttle – Badminton. I am so good at it that I once made it to the JVC open badminton competition and I was like the lead player in our varsity back in my early years in high school. There are virtually no badminton aficionados here in the U.S. Oh actually, there are some…in the backyard.
Badminton is considered a backyard sport in the United States. People do not play it as much as they play football, baseball, and basketball. The most easily seen proof that Badminton isn't popular in the States as it is in the Philippines is the lack of professional badminton rackets sold at major sports shops. I remember one time going to a big and popular sports place selling easily bent with colored strings badminton rackets and with a two proudly advertised free plastic shuttles.
My initial reaction was, "Pfft". I can forgive those rackets, but as a pro-player, I can say that you can't ascend to the higher playing levels of Badminton with a plastic birdie.
- This is the real thing...
- ...not this. :P
There are also a few badminton clubs available. The nearest badminton club from my area is still a hefty 30 miles. Back in the good old days of intense Badminton play, we would just drive 12 minutes from our home to the nearest Badminton club and challenge random players inside. The result wasn't just the one you get from a good play, but new friendships made!
- Looks fun, huh? hahaha
Badminton is a good substitute for the boring hours of repetitive activities inside the gym. You can never know what may happen in a Badminton play. Because of the swift movement of the shuttlecock in just a small court, you are ought to use fast strategies, brain and body coordination, eye contact, and swift feet. In just an hour, you can burn 420 plus calories depending on the level of play. That may seem low compared to an hour on a treadmill, but you aren't tired yet in just an hour worth of Badminton play. It can get very addicting that it takes typical players 2-4 hours to get fully exhausted. That's 1,680 calories burned in a fun play! In addition, by just playing Badminton, one can increase levels of good cholesterol by 13%, helps in regulating blood pressure, improves cardiorespiratory fitness, helps regulate sugar production, improves mood, and many more!
Badminton has a lot of potential to be considered a national sport in the U.S. It just needs the media's attention. Badminton wasn't made this popular in the Philippines if it weren't because of the media. Fat Filipino celebrities shared their stories to the media on how Badminton brought them back to shape, and it instantly spread like a wildfire to the populace yearning for a fit body. If Badminton can enjoy the same media attention such as the NFL and the NBA do, Americans will soon benefit from playing this basic yet intense sport, even just in their own backyard.
PS: I'm appealing to the major sports brands out there! You could make this the new fad.
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