title: Physiological characteristics of elite and sub-elite badminton players.
abstract: The aims of this study were to establish the physical and physiological attributes of elite and sub-elite Malaysian male badminton players and to determine whether these attributes discriminate elite players from sub-elite players. Measurements and tests of basic anthropometry, explosive power, anaerobic recovery capacity, badminton-specific movement agility, maximum strength, and aerobic capacity were conducted on two occasions, separated by at least one day. The elite (n = 12) and sub-elite (n = 12) players' characteristics were, respectively: mean age 24.6 years (s = 3.7) and 20.5 years (s = 0.7); mass 73.2 kg (s = 7.6) and 62.7 kg (s = 4.2); stature 1.76 m (s = 0.07) and 1.71 m (s = 0.05); body fat 12.5% (s = 4.8) and 9.5% (s = 3.4); estimated VO(2max) 56.9 ml . kg(-1) . min(-1) (s = 3.7) and 59.5 ml . kg(-1) . min(-1) (s = 5.2). The elite players had greater maximum absolute strength in one-repetition maximum bench press (P = 0.015) compared with the sub-elite players. There were significant differences in instantaneous lower body power estimated from vertical jump height between the elite and sub-elite groups (P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between groups in shuttle run tests and on-court badminton-specific movement agility tests. Our results show that elite Malaysian male badminton players are taller, heavier, and stronger than their sub-elite counterparts. The test battery, however, did not allow us to discriminate between the elite and sub-elite players, suggesting that at the elite level tactical knowledge, technical skills, and psychological readiness could be of greater importance.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Exercise Physiology.
authors.forename: Cheong Hwa
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Azwari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Kien Weng
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kwong
authors.forename: Ruji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sompong
authors.forename: Khairul Aswadi Mohd
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ghazali
authors.forename: Swee Lee
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Liew
authors.forename: Wen Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Martin William
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D049628:Body Size; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D015865:Racquet Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running; D014891:Weight Lifting; D055815:Young Adult