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To have a great game of badminton, one integral part of it is the shuttlecock. Weight, quality, shape, size, and a few other aspects can either make or break one’s performance while playing. Whether it is an expert or an amateur, each player needs to try their hand at badminton with nothing but the best of shuttlecocks. There are various styles and varieties of shuttlecocks available in the market ranging from nylon to plastic, from plain whites to colourful and much more. We have identified the most diverse picks that are top of the line all-inclusive shuttlecock sets for your game of badminton. <bulletContentEmbed name="B000FI8ER8" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B000FI8ER8_head"> <div type="image" title="Top Choice" msid="78300577" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B000FI8ER8</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B000FI8ER8_body"><bulletContentRow name="B000FI8ER8_7354561153757099"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Yonex Mavis 350 Nylon Shuttlecock (Pack of 6)</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This bright yellow green cap set of 6 nylon shuttlecocks is designed in a way to help a player deliver the most impressive shots and a stable performance in different environments and temperatures. In terms of experience, this particular set of shuttlecocks promises to give a feather-like shuttles experience. When smashed, these shuttles recover within 0.02 seconds. The product quality is categorised based on 3 different temperatures, therefore should be chosen as per the environmental factors of the place where these shuttles will be used for playing. In temperature ranging from 22°C to 33°C, the green cap design may perform at a slower speed.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B000FI8ER8_3860693329974086"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Near Feather Shuttle Experience</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B06XC67C3P" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B06XC67C3P_head"> <div type="image" title="Budget Friendly" msid="79020318" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B06XC67C3P</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B06XC67C3P_body"><bulletContentRow name="B06XC67C3P_1177057203364562"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Victor NS 3000 6 Pieces Nylon Shuttlecock (Set of 2)</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This highly affordable pack by Victor includes two tubes of NS-3000 nylon shuttlecocks. Each tube contain of six pieces of shuttle, making it a total of twelve shuttle cocks. The shuttles are made up of nylon and are of premium quality.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B06XC67C3P_7655559526318055"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Yellow shuttlecocks</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B08DMR834B" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B08DMR834B_head"> <div type="image" title="Popular Pick" msid="80968858" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B08DMR834B</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B08DMR834B_body"><bulletContentRow name="B08DMR834B_6546158174790221"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">SUPER SONA Vins Nylon Shuttlecock</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This 6-piece shuttlecock box is one of the most popular choices as the quality and design of the shuttles are nearly perfect. Made up of high quality engineered nylon, these shuttles have synthetic bottom and are perfect for players of all levels. These low torsion shuttles are great for a long duration game as these do not exhaust the player. Imported cork base and excellent flight and balance of the shuttles make it an in-demand product.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B08DMR834B_8938430558489832"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Yellow coloured nylon shuttlecocks.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B00JXRR75C" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B00JXRR75C_head"><div type="image" title="Editor&amp;#39;s Pick" msid="81287079" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B00JXRR75C</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B00JXRR75C_body"><bulletContentRow name="B00JXRR75C_2357129184237874"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Yonex Mavis 10 Nylon 6 Shuttlecocks</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This is a pack of 6 shuttlecocks from Yonex. The shuttlecocks are made up of high quality nylon material for a great performance and a perfect flight during the game. The shuttlecocks are precisely made and are of yellow colour with green cap for a better vision. These shuttlecocks are best suitable for beginners and intermediate players.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B00JXRR75C_1828335255470579"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Highly durable and long lasting shuttlecocks.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B01N1LQGIU" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B01N1LQGIU_head"><div type="image" title="Must Have" msid="81287191" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B01N1LQGIU</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B01N1LQGIU_body"><bulletContentRow name="B01N1LQGIU_9931748371836862"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">COSCO AERO 727 SHUTTLE COCKS-NYLON</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">These shuttlecocks from Cosco are made up of premium quality nylon and foam material. The pack contains six nylon shuttlecocks. These shuttlecocks provide complete control throughout the game and are extremely durable. These shuttlecocks are one of the best you can ask for.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B01N1LQGIU_0790142201454551"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Excellent flight stability and great performance.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed>

best badminton shuttlecock in India

Indulging in an interesting sport such as badminton offers an active rush to kids and adults. Not only does it improve muscle strength, physical flexibility and provide other physiological benefits but also helps in improving focus, dedication and imbibes a spirit of passion and vivaciousness. With a pair of good badminton rackets, anyone can channelise their energy in an amazing positive manner. The rackets should be sturdy, light-weight, and also have some fun quotient to the look. Even though everyone’s choice is different, there are always some designs and products which impress all. Giving you some of the best options out of the lot so you can pick a set for yourself or a loved one and begin enjoying the inner sportsperson in you. <bulletContentEmbed name="B07S9YR6WT" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07S9YR6WT_head"> <div type="image" title="Also Consider" msid="79001401" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07S9YR6WT</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07S9YR6WT_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07S9YR6WT_0621387793926207"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Li-Ning XP-IV Blend Badminton Racquet, Set of 2 with Free Full Cover</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Perfect for beginners and intermediate players of badminton, the Li-Ning badminton racket features an aluminium frame, making it lightweight and convenient to play with. It also features a low torsion steel material that enhances its strength. Since it is lightweight, weighing only 90 grams, this badminton racket from Li-Ning will enable you to play for a longer period of time without feeling exhausted.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07S9YR6WT_7207751629560744"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">2 Badminton Racket With Full Cover</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07SGCQ2FM" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07SGCQ2FM_head"> <div type="image" title="Must Have" msid="79316242" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07SGCQ2FM</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07SGCQ2FM_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07SGCQ2FM_6387955173916643"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Yonex ZR 100 Light Aluminium Badminton Racquet with Full Cover, Set of 2 | Made in India</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">These highly durable rackets by Yonex are ideal for both beginners and intermediate players. Made up of aluminium, this set of two badminton rackets is of superior quality and budget friendly.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07SGCQ2FM_4567095596629026"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Colour of rackets: black &amp; blue.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07X3GHKVT" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07X3GHKVT_head"> <div type="image" title="Best Buy" msid="79607727" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07X3GHKVT</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07X3GHKVT_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07X3GHKVT_9243606414293328"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Tima Set of Badminton Rackets, Pair of 2 Rackets, Lightweight &amp; Sturdy, with 4 Feather SHUTTLECOCKS, for Professional &amp; Beginner Players, Cover Included</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Built for maximum fun and learning, prepare to ace your game with these badminton rackets through which, you will certainly rule the court. The pack includes a set of two badminton rackets; four shuttlecocks and a cover. These rackets are suitable for players of any level and it doesn't matter if you're a professional player or if you've never seen a shuttlecock before in your life. These badminton rackets are perfect for both practicing your skills and training.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07X3GHKVT_4303705216884391"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Metallic tempered, steel tight string rackets.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07SWS23S7" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07SWS23S7_head"> <div type="image" title="Popular Choice" msid="78299449" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07SWS23S7</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07SWS23S7_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07SWS23S7_8965537147746976"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">Yonex GR 201 Pack of 2 Aluminum Strung Badminton Racquet(Blue/Blue) with Head Cover</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Ideal for beginners as well as intermediate players, this lightweight set of 2 rackets has a low torsion steel shaft for better strength performance. Available in a beautiful green and blue combo, this pair of 2 comes with a head cover for each.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07SWS23S7_5255336884017266"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Lightweight Aluminium Frame</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed> <bulletContentEmbed name="B07P8H5V6P" columns="1"><bulletContentHeading name="B07P8H5V6P_head"><div type="image" title="Recommended" msid="78299558" hostid="261"></div></columnHeadThumb>B07P8H5V6P</columnHeadTitle></columnHead></bulletContentHeading><bulleteContentBody name="B07P8H5V6P_body"><bulletContentRow name="B07P8H5V6P_8916037858285871"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1">APACS Combo of 2 Finapi 232 Black Unstrung Racquets - Set of 2</bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">This product, weighing approx. 87 gm, is designed to deliver the best and the perfect shots for any player. Even skilled badminton players can play with this pair of rackets and not be disheartened by their performance. The string tension on these rackets is about 35 lbs, enabling very clean and effortless shots. Graphite aero wide-body head, frame and shaft of this progressive pair of rackets make it a top pick. With a G2 grip control and a stiff flex on these rackets, a player is bound to deliver amazing offensive shots. This is an unstrung pair.</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow><bulletContentRow name="B07P8H5V6P_1879377635967635"><bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowHead col="1"></bulletContentRowHead></bulletContentRowHeading><bulletContentRowBody><bulletContentRowCell col="1">Designed with Unique Graphite Body</bulletContentRowCell></bulletContentRowBody></bulletContentRow></bulleteContentBody></bulletContentEmbed>

Best badminton racket sets in India

Editor's Note: Earlier this morning, we inadvertently sent an email intended for new <keyword id="11894123" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="newsletter" source="Orion">newsletter</keyword> subscribers. We apologize for the confusion. Here is today's newsletter:Welcome back to <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/10-things-in-politics">10 Things in Politics</a>. <ul><li>The best Cyber Monday deal: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=2021-Q4-Subscriptions&amp;utm_term=BFCMSale_Newslettersedit&amp;utm_content=2021BlackFriday_Newslettersedit">Sign up today and become an Insider</a> for our lowest annual subscription rate ever — just $38 for full access to everything we offer.</li></ul>Here's what we're talking about:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fauci-guidance-trick-or-treat-celebrate-halloween-covid-coronavirus-mask-2021-10"></a><ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fauci-fifth-wave-omicron-threat-looms-2021-11">Fauci says the US could experience a fifth wave in COVID-19 infections as new Omicron variant looms</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mtg-says-never-apologize-to-islamic-terrorist-sympathizers-2021-11">Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called some Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, 'Islamic terrorist sympathizers'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-2021-sales-stats-performance-online-in-store-2021-11">Black Friday shopping failed to reach pre-pandemic levels</a></li></ul>1. THE PANDEMIC: Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that the US might enter a fifth COVID-19 wave as the threat of the new Omicron variant looms. He and other top health officials have also said that the Omicron variant, which was first detected in southern Africa, may already be in the US. Fauci stressed that Americans should continue to get their COVID-19 shots and booster vaccines.<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/omicron-coronavirus-variant-canada-says-found-north-america-first-cases-2021-11">Canada recorded North America's first cases of the Omicron variant</a> on Sunday. They were found in two people in Ottawa, Ontario, who had recently visited Nigeria, health officials said.</li></ul>Here's what we know about Omicron and what we still need to learn:It has a "record" number of mutations: National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins told "Fox News Sunday" that this fact "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/omicron-variant-has-a-record-number-of-mutations-nih-director-2021-11">does make you worry, therefore, that it's a sufficiently different virus."</a><ul><li>This gets at one of the biggest current unknowns: It's not clear how effective current vaccines are against the variant. But drugmakers have plans in the works if Omicron does prove to be resistant against current shots. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pfizer-vaccine-update-100-days-omicron-variant-resistant-2021-11">Pfizer has said it could have a reworked vaccine ready in 100 days. </a></li><li>The other major unknown is how easily Omicron spreads: <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/11/1106672">The World Health Organization said it's too early</a> to say if the new variant spreads more easily than the Delta variant, the latter of which has upended many carefully-laid pandemic plans.</li></ul>White House says the best step is to get vaccinated: Health officials held a call with South African scientists on Sunday to review the latest data, The Washington Post reports. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/11/28/omicron-variant-coronavirus/">Officials are expected to continue to push already-vaccinated Americans to get their booster shots.</a><ul><li>Other parts of the world are locking down: Japan and Israel have both closed off their borders to foreign travelers, Reuters reports. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/spread-omicron-variant-forces-nations-rethink-plans-global-travel-2021-11-29/">Read more about the global reaction.</a> </li></ul>Meanwhile, South Africa feels it has been unfairly targeted: "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/south-africa-says-it-is-being-punished-detecting-omicron-variant-2021-11">This latest round of travel bans is akin to punishing South Africa</a> for its advanced genomic sequencing and the ability to detect new variants quicker," South Africa's foreign ministry said in a statement over the weekend.2. How a Confederate-history-rich town is responding to the critical race theory fight: School-board meetings are now academic battlegrounds, but in Winchester, Virginia, an Insider reporter found a town trying hard to teach about racial equity. Winchester earned the nickname "the shuttlecock of the Confederacy" because it was the most contested town during the Civil War. By contrast, the dominant theme at the meeting at John Kerr Elementary School was equity. No one there argued that schools were "indoctrinating" children. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/critical-race-theory-protests-winchester-virginia-school-board-meeting-2021-11">Read more about how this Virginia town is avoiding heated culture wars.</a>3. Congress returns to looming deadlines: Lawmakers return from their Thanksgiving break for a four-week sprint where they will need to avoid defaulting on debt and pass the yearly authorization of nearly a trillion dollars of defense programs, The Washington Post reports. The most urgent need is to avoid a government shutdown by December 3. Democratic leaders are also pushing the party to finish work on Biden's massive social spending plan, with senators expected to pass a bill far different from House Democrats' nearly $2 trillion legislation. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/11/28/congress-shutdown-debt-ceiling-reconciliation/">More on Congress' frenetic year-end schedule.</a>4. A notorious stock-market bear warns of trouble ahead: John Hussman, who predicted the dot-com bubble, says indicators of a stock market peak are beyond the famous 2000s tech-stock plunge. "I've never observed as many historical indications of a market peak occurring simultaneously," Hussman said. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stock-market-crash-bubble-expert-warns-indicators-deteriorating-valuations-hussman-2021-11">Read more about the indicators that Hussman says shows the market has reached its peak.</a>5. Supreme Court to hear major abortion case this week: Justices will hear arguments on Wednesday about a Mississippi law that amounts to a full-frontal challenge of Roe v. Wade, the Associated Press reports. The Mississippi law "would ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, well before viability," which is something previous courts have never allowed. In fact, the Supreme Court "had never before even agreed to hear a case over a pre-viability abortion ban." <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-us-supreme-court-voting-rights-samuel-alito-07ecdb3661032c4c6ececd4d07c70655">Here's what court watchers are looking for as justices consider a potentially monumental decision.</a><div type="image" title="A crowded mall on Black Friday 2021." height="1231" width="1647" msid="87980975" hostid="261"></div>6. Black Friday shopping fails to reach pre-pandemic levels: Early data shows a mixed review for the traditional kick-off to the holiday shopping season. Though retailers made some gains — including in areas like in-store traffic and mobile sales — data shows the industry is still struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels. The findings also indicate a shift in consumer spending patterns, such as starting shopping earlier in the season and taking advantage of newer services like buy-now-pay-later. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-2021-sales-stats-performance-online-in-store-2021-11">More on the key takeaways from Black Friday reports.</a>7. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene calls some Democratic lawmakers "Islamic terrorist sympathizers": Greene attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar, saying the Minnesota Democrat and some of her colleagues were undeserving of an apology because they are "Islamic terrorist sympathizers" and "communists." Greene's comments come after Rep. Lauren Boebert apologized for implying that Omar was a terrorist. Some Republicans — including Rep. Adam Kinzinger – and Democrats had called out Boebert for her remarks. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mtg-says-never-apologize-to-islamic-terrorist-sympathizers-2021-11">More on the situation.</a>8. Matthew McConaughey rules out Texas gubernatorial campaign: McConaughey said he is choosing not to enter <keyword id="11893346" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="politics" source="Orion">politics</keyword> "at this moment" after publicly contemplating a run. The Academy Award winner added that "we got to start shining a light on our shared values, the ones that cross party lines." <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/matthew-mcconaughey-says-hes-not-running-for-texas-governor-2021-11">Read McConaughey's entire statement on his decision and what he wants to do next.</a>9. Fauci said Republican attacks against him are "nonsense": "I have to laugh at that. I should be prosecuted? What happened on January 6, Senator?" Fauci told CBS of Sen. Ted Cruz's previous suggestion that the infectious-diseases expert should be prosecuted for claims that he lied about gain-of-function research. Fauci added that he views attacks from the likes of Cruz and Sen. Rand Paul as nothing more than "nonsense" and "noise." <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fauci-laugh-when-cruz-said-he-should-be-prosecuted-2021-11">More from the interview.</a><div type="image" title="Women shop at a Goodwill store in Boulder, Colorado." height="2191" width="2921" msid="87980976" hostid="261"></div>10. The supply chain crisis is changing how people view used goods: Executives at AptDeco and Fernish, two companies that rent or sell furniture through a circular business model, told Insider that the secondhand economy's growing popularity is really about shifting consumer attitudes toward used products. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/supply-chain-crisis-impact-on-thrifting-resale-secondhand-holiday-shopping-2021-11">More on the trend.</a>Today's trivia question: Who was the first president to set up a Christmas tree inside the White House? Email your answer and a suggested question to me at <a href="mailto:bgriffiths@insider.com">bgriffiths@insider.com</a>.<ul><li>The latest answer: President Calvin Coolidge was gifted a raccoon for a Thanksgiving meal <a href="https://www.history.com/news/the-thanksgiving-raccoon-that-became-a-presidential-pet">but decided to spare the animal, who later became a beloved pet.</a></li></ul>

10 Things in Politics: Fauci says the US should prep for new variant

Growing up in the New Jersey suburbs, a couple of things defined my summers, among them hot dogs, sunburns, and drawn-out games of backyard <keyword id="12469579" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="badminton" source="Orion">badminton</keyword> with my dad and little brother. We had a net lined with a hot pink streak, and by the time the sun set on weekends, we'd be tired, covered in grass stains, and nursing stubbed toes.Now I live in <keyword id="11895291" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="singapore" source="Orion">Singapore</keyword>, halfway across the world from where I grew up. Bergen County this is not — and here, badminton is no mere evening activity. It's a lifestyle, and a highly competitive one at that."All the way back, badminton has been popular in Singapore," said Clarence Loh, a 41-year-old brokerage owner who started a community badminton group during the pandemic.Singapore (which is smaller than New York City) saw 770,000 court bookings in 2019, according to <a href="https://www.myactivesg.com/read/2019/11/airbadminton-takes-off-in-singapore">Active SG</a>, a government site dedicated to keeping the population active and healthy. The city-state claims an estimated 210,000 active badminton players, which means that some 3.75% of the population identifies as a badminton player.And while sub-4% of a population may not seem like a lot, it's a very active 4% — one that books up courts within a minute of them becoming available, trades and sells off those bookings in a robust secondary market, and just may have the local parenting style to thank for its competitive edge.<h2>A hot commodity</h2>As any Singapore badminton aficionado will tell you, the most challenging part of playing is securing a court.Loh said that online bookings for the week ahead get snapped up within minutes of being posted."The system is not very good," Loh said, explaining that people can only book one court hour per ID card. But some coaches, he said, will show up at courts with 20 people's IDs and book 20 court hours in one fell swoop."The whole ordeal we hear from players is that booking the indoor courts is really hard right now," Loh said. "They're always getting snapped up."Demand is significant enough that two new venues, each of which has 20 badminton courts, <a href="https://mothership.sg/2021/11/suntec-city-badminton/">opened</a> this year alone. One of those venues, Singapore EXPO, is housed in Singapore's biggest convention venue. Courts are <a href="https://www.singaporeexpo.com.sg/play-at-expo">open</a> from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and go for between 12 and 18 Singapore dollars an hour (roughly $9 - $13), depending on the time of day.In an August Facebook post, Heng Swee Keat, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=4322832437755248&amp;id=195137123858154">wrote</a> that EXPO serves a double purpose: It's at once helping make up for Singapore's dearth of badminton courts and fill up its surplus of venue spaces, which have gone virtually unused during the pandemic.Players looking to clock some court time can also book private courts or community courts, many of which are outdoors — or they can turn to the robust off-the-books secondary market.<div type="image" title="badminton court in singapore with high-rise buildings in the background and surrounded by trees" height="2944" width="3926" msid="88328908" hostid="261"></div>Finding Singapore's secondary badminton court market is as simple as going to Carousell, Singapore's version of Craigslist. I searched the site and within minutes had found a handful of listings selling court times (mostly between 5 and 15 Singapore dollars per hour), seeking courts, and offering coaching lessons. I messaged six of them and didn't hear back from five; one declined to answer.Their hesitance to engage with a journalist isn't surprising, given the government's reaction in the past.For the most part, those selling courts appeared to be offloading their purchases at face value, but that wasn't always the case. In February, local outlet <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/play-football-for-300-football-tennis-among-facility-bookings-hawked-by-resellers">Straits Times</a> reported that people were reselling badminton, tennis, and soccer court or field bookings for as much as 300 Singapore dollars. Sport Singapore vowed to clamp down on the reselling practice, ultimately <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/re-selling-of-public-sports-facilities-is-wrong-says-sportsg-as-it-vows-to-clamp-down-on-the">suspending and blacklisting</a> 255 accounts for reselling bookings.After I sent out my inquiries, my Carousell account was terminated for what the site deemed to be "patterns of suspicious activities." I reached out to Carousell for more information, and a rep told me their AI had determined I was a scammer based on the quantity of my messages and my IP location being tied to New York. Following my query, Carousell reactivated my account.Sport Singapore — a branch of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth dedicated to <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> — did not respond to my request for comment for this story. The Singapore Badminton Association, the governing board for badminton in Singapore, turned down multiple requests for comment.<h2>Taking it to the big leagues</h2>The competitive nature of the recreational leagues is perhaps no surprise if you turn your gaze to the competitive field of professional badminton across southeast <keyword id="11902482" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="asia" source="Orion">Asia</keyword>.In the <a href="https://www.badmintonskills.net/world-rankings/">2021 world rankings</a>, Asian countries (Japan, Indonesia, Korea, China) dominate the lists, with the occasional European country (England, Denmark) sneaking into the rankings. In men's and women's doubles alike, every one of the top 10 teams hails from an Asian country.The sport is popular in the region, said Haresh Deol, the cofounder of Malaysian news site Twentytwo13, because it "requires little space and is an economically friendly sport." As he explained to <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Life/Why-Asia-loves-the-low-key-but-rising-sport-of-badminton">Nikkei Asia</a>, "all you need is a racket and a shuttlecock, and even without the net, two players can already play a simplified version of the sport, which is common in many neighborhoods in Malaysia."It has also led to fierce rivalries. Singapore's No. 1 player, Loh Kean Yew, drew his fair share of <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/badminton-singapores-loh-kean-yew-shocks-japans-world-no-1-kento-momota">local headlines</a> (<a href="https://mothership.sg/2021/12/loh-kean-yew-coach-beat-chest/">see also</a>: "Loh Kean Yew's coach beats chest vigorously like a gorilla to motivate him during matches") when he beat Japan's top player, Kento Momota, in late November and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Indonesia Open.<div type="image" title="Singapore athletes at the Olympics bearing the country's flag and dressed in red blazers" height="2148" width="2864" msid="88328909" hostid="261"></div>Terry Hee, a fellow professional badminton player, has been competing and training professionally for more than ten years.He was 13 when he started competing internationally; at 16, he made it onto the Singapore national team; and now, at 26, he plays on Singapore's national senior badminton squad. He told me he trains five days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and again from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. On Saturdays, he has a single training session, and Sundays are a rest day.We squeezed in a call on a Thursday, during what I quickly learned was his lunch break between training sessions. When I asked him why he chose to play badminton instead of soccer or tennis, both of which are popular here, he laughed."Are they?" he asked, questioning the other sports' popularity in relation to badminton's. "I started playing when I was 10, and I fell in love with it. It was the only choice I had at that time because my parents wanted me to play sports and get all my energy out."<div type="image" title="Man in neon shirt playing badminton in indoor arena" height="2000" width="2666" msid="88328911" hostid="261"></div>Hee said he thinks badminton is popular in Singapore because it's cheap and it's an easy sport for families to play together. It also dovetails nicely with the predominant Singaporean parenting style, he said: Many parents locally dissuade their kids from setting their sights on professional leagues, which breeds a competitive nature in the non-professional field."Singapore parents are very realistic," Hee said. "They want their kids to study and do well, become doctors. Not many parents would support their kids to do sports as a career in Singapore.""Definitely, parenting plays a part. In terms of career planning, you won't have many choices in sports," agreed Daniel Tan, the founder of Singapore's Be A Champ Badminton Academy. "In Singapore, the majority of parents are still very focused on academics," he added.The pandemic brought about some changes for the sport.Demand for courts has risen as people have sought out local recreational opportunities, the company that manages Singapore EXPO told the <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/badminton-new-courts-at-expo-and-suntec-a-boon-for-enthusiasts">Straits Times</a>.The type of demand has shifted, too. Joseph, a 22-year-old college student studying computer science, said doubles matches used to be the most popular option. But at various points throughout the pandemic, Singapore has capped group sizes at two people (they're currently capped at five), so Joseph and his friends had to switch to singles games to stay within the legal group-size limits.The government-mandated group sizes play a big part in the court shortage, said Tan of Be A Champ Academy. Tan said he saw a sudden spike in interest in badminton three or four years ago with the launch of the Badminton World Federation, though things have also picked up during the pandemic."Before the pandemic and after the pandemic is totally different," Tan said. "Before the pandemic, we could easily fit in one coach and six students in a court. But with the current restrictions, it's four students to one coach. And previously it was even worse — one student to one coach.""The majority of full-time coaches have been on unpaid leave for 15 months because of the courts issue," Tan continued. "When there are no courts and no badminton halls open, we can't do anything — we can't coach." Tan estimates there are roughly 300 full-time and part-time certified badminton coaches in Singapore, and those who have been affected by the court shortage have turned to everything from working as Grab food delivery drivers to COVID-swab administrators to make ends meet.<div type="image" title="a large public housing unit in Singapore that's next to a hilly park and a basketball court" height="3024" width="4032" msid="88328912" hostid="261"></div>Notably, badminton is not the only leisure sport to have seen a spike in Singapore during the pandemic. <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/covid-19-cycling-popularity-bicycle-sales-shared-bikes-631621">Bike sales and rentals</a> in the city-state soared in 2020 as people looked for activities they could do under lockdown. And, as <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-04-07/singapore-golf-club-prices-at-record-highs-as-augusta-masters-tournament-starts">Bloomberg</a> reported in April, the cost of memberships at one of Singapore's exclusive golf clubs is up 40% from pre-pandemic prices. The rise in leisure sports is also not limited to only Singapore — a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wealthy-americans-doing-hobbies-alone-already-reshaping-economy-2020-6?IR=C">similar trend was observed in the US</a> a mere three months into the pandemic. Of course, it's not all competition, fights over courts, and black-market dealings.Just ask Loh, the brokerage-company owner. He's the third generation of his family to live in Tiong Bahru, a hip neighborhood about a 15-minute drive from downtown that's home to heritage buildings, coffee shops, and high-rise HDB (public housing) units.Loh told me that he used to fly across the Southeast Asian region for work, estimating he used to spend less than two months of the year in Singapore. Then the pandemic struck, borders closed, and, in need of a way to fill time (and get in shape, he said), he turned to badminton.For him, it's a family affair: His dad used to coach at the school level, and Loh trained with the national team in the late 90s. His oldest son is starting to pick up the game too, though Loh doesn't want to push him into it."My dad and I are building up a community of players," Loh said. "We started four months ago and became a beautiful community. Now we have about 34 players — adults and kids. The oldest is mid-40s, youngest is 9 or 10."But the one thing that rang true with everyone I spoke to for this story, whether they were building a professional career or a local community of players, is the court crunch — and the pros are no exception. When Hee is training, court space is arranged for him. It's a different story if he's trying to book one for fun, he said. "There are many private coaches out there who coach in government sports halls, so they'll fight for the courts," Hee said. "Courts open for booking every day at 7 a.m. By 7:01, they're gone."

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