The rules of women’s badminton in India are aligned with the guidelines set by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Here are the key rules and regulations:

Court and Equipment

Court Dimensions: The court is 13.4 meters long and 6.1 meters wide for doubles matches, and 13.4 meters long and 5.18 meters wide for singles matches.

Net: The net is set at a height of 1.55 meters at the edges and 1.524 meters at the center.

Shuttlecock: Can be made of natural feathers or synthetic material.

Rackets: Lightweight, typically weighing between 70-100 grams.

Scoring System

Match Format: Best of three games.

Game Points: Each game is played to 21 points.

Winning a Game: The first player or pair to reach 21 points wins the game, provided they have a 2-point lead. If the score reaches 20-20, the game continues until a 2-point lead is achieved or until one side reaches 30 points (maximum).

Winning the Match: The first player or pair to win two games wins the match.

Serving

Service Courts: Each side has two service courts: right and left.

Singles: Serve from the right service court when the server’s score is even, and from the left service court when the server’s score is odd.

Doubles:

• At the start of the game and when the score is even, the server serves from the right service court.
• When the score is odd, the server serves from the left service court.

Service Rules: The serve must be hit below the waist (defined as the bottom rib). The racket head must be below the server’s hand holding the racket.

Faults: A fault in serving can occur if the shuttle is struck above the waist, the shuttle does not land in the correct service court, or if the server steps on the boundary lines during service.

Play

Rally: A point is scored by winning a rally. A rally is won if the shuttle lands in the opponent’s court, if the opponent commits a fault, or fails to return the shuttle.

Faults During Play: These include hitting the shuttle out of bounds, not clearing the net, touching the net with the racket or body, and double hitting the shuttle.

Let: A let is called to halt play and the point is replayed. This can happen if the shuttle disintegrates, if the umpire is unable to make a call, or if an unexpected disturbance occurs.

Intervals and Changes

Intervals: A 60-second interval is allowed when the leading score reaches 11 points in each game. A 2-minute interval is allowed between each game.

Changing Ends: Players change ends after each game, and in the third game, they switch ends when the leading score reaches 11 points.

Conduct and Discipline

Code of Conduct: Players must respect the rules, opponents, and officials. Misconduct can lead to warnings, point penalties, or disqualification.

Umpires and Officials: Matches are overseen by an umpire, with assistance from service judges and line judges.

Domestic Competitions

Tournaments: Various national tournaments are organized by the Badminton Association of India (BAI), including the Senior National Badminton Championships and other regional and inter-state competitions.

League Play: Professional leagues such as the Premier Badminton League (PBL) follow international rules and attract top domestic and international players.

These rules ensure the game is played fairly and maintains the competitive spirit, fostering the growth of women’s badminton in India.