Journal of Sports Sciences Physiological Characteristics of Elite and Sub-Elite Badminton Players

This article was downloaded by: [Victoria University Library] On: 28 January 2010 Access details: Access Details: [subscription number 908167716] Publisher Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37- 41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Journal of Sports Sciences Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713721847 Physiological characteristics of elite and sub-elite badminton players Cheong Hwa Ooi a; Albert Tan a; Azwari Ahmad a; Kien Weng Kwong a; Ruji Sompong a; Khairul Aswadi Mohd Ghazali a; Swee Lee Liew a; Wen Jin Chai b; Martin William Thompson ac a Centre for Exercise Physiology, b Sports Nutrition Centre, Division of Sports Science, National Sports Institute of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia c Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia First published on: 04 December 2009 To cite this Article Ooi, Cheong Hwa, Tan, Albert, Ahmad, Azwari, Kwong, Kien Weng, Sompong, Ruji, Mohd Ghazali, Khairul Aswadi, Liew, Swee Lee, Chai, Wen Jin and Thompson, Martin William(2009) 'Physiological characteristics of elite and sub-elite badminton players', Journal of Sports Sciences, 27: 14, 1591 — 1599, First published on: 04 December 2009 (iFirst) To link to this Article: DOI: 10.1080/02640410903352907 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640410903352907 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. 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Journal of Sports Sciences, December 2009; 27(14): 1591–1599 Physiological characteristics of elite and sub-elite badminton players CHEONG HWA OOI1, ALBERT TAN1, AZWARI AHMAD1, KIEN WENG KWONG1, RUJI SOMPONG1, KHAIRUL ASWADI MOHD GHAZALI1, SWEE LEE LIEW1, WEN JIN CHAI2, & MARTIN WILLIAM THOMPSON1,3 1Centre for Exercise Physiology, 2Sports Nutrition Centre, Division of Sports Science, National Sports Institute of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and 3Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (Accepted 21 September 2009) 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 ¼ 12) and sub-elite (n ¼ 12) players’ characteristics were, respectively: mean age 24.6 years (s ¼ 3.7) and 20.5 years (s ¼ 0.7); mass 73.2 kg (s ¼ 7.6) and 62.7 kg (s ¼ 4.2); stature 1.76 m (s ¼ 0.07) and 1.71 m (s ¼ 0.05); body fat 12.5% (s ¼ 4.8) and 9.5% 71 71 71 71 (s ¼ 3.4); estimated VO2max 56.9 ml Á kg Á min (s ¼ 3.7) and 59.5 ml Á kg Á min (s ¼ 5.2). The elite players had greater maximum absolute strength in one-repetition maximum bench press (P ¼ 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 5 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. Keywords: Physiological characteristics, badminton, elite players, racket sport succeed at elite international level (Omosegaard, Introduction 1996). Badminton has been an Olympic sport since the The new ‘‘scoring system’’ introduced by the Downloaded By: [Victoria University Library] At: 22:58 28 January 2010 Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992. The sport has Badminton World Federation (BWF) in 2006 has undergone considerable development since the first also added a further dimension to the game. Under rules were written in 1877 by members of the British this new format, a match consists of the best of three Army and Diplomatic Corps. Currently, there are games and the player who scores 21 points first wins five full-medal events on the Olympic programme the game (www.internationalbadminton.org/statues- (men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles, pdf/law.pdf). A recent study comparing the temporal women’s doubles, and mixed doubles). Badminton structure of the new and conventional scoring is claimed to be the world’s fastest racket sport, systems for men’s singles revealed that rally times with the shuttle velocity following a smash being and the number of shots per rally were significantly over 100 m Á s71 and average shuttle velocity greater in matches played under the new scoring during match-play ranging from 50 to 75 m Á s71 system (Chen & Chen, 2008). The increased match (Gowitzke & Waddell, 1978). The demands of the duration and work-to-rest ratio after the first game sport require a blend of fine technical skills, further suggests that contemporary competitive intelligent game tactics, specific physiological fit- badminton may require different training strategies ness, and thorough psychological preparation to and preparation (Chen & Chen, 2008). Correspondence: C. H. Ooi, Division of Sports Science, Centre for Exercise Physiology, National Sports Institute of Malaysia, National Sports Complex, Bukit Jalil, Sri Petaling, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. E-mail: [email protected] ISSN 0264-0414 print/ISSN 1466-447X online Ó 2009 Taylor & Francis DOI: 10.1080/02640410903352907 1592 C. H. Ooi et al. Aside from the technical, tactical, and training Malaysia has enabled us to draw comparisons aspects of modern competitive badminton, the between the sub-elite players and the truly elite physical demands are continually changing, with players. players in action demonstrating intense rhythmic The present study is primarily a descriptive one movement involving shuffling, jumping, twisting, that seeks to provide physical and physiological stretching, striking with a combination of superior characteristics of elite and sub-elite Malaysian male anticipation, quick reflexes, and superb visual acuity – badminton players. We hypothesized that the elite all in a reactive context. This combination of physical players would have superior physiological fitness as movement skills raises the question of what physical demonstrated by their performance on a range of and physiological attributes of elite badminton common fitness assessment tests and measure- players sets them apart from sub-elite players. ments. Unfortunately, there is relatively limited information in the research literature on the physical and physiological profiles of Asian players who dominate Methods at all major international tournaments. Participants and protocols A number of studies have addressed the validity of a limited range of specific tests to determine the All participants were national male badminton physiological capacity and badminton performance players under the sanctioned programme of the of elite players (Baum, Hoy, Leyk, Papadopoulos, & National Sports Council of Malaysia (NSCM) and Effeld, 1997; Chin et al., 1995; Hughes & Fullerton, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). 1995; Wonisch, Hofmann, Schwaberger, von They included elite squad players who are part of a Duvillard, & Klein, 2003). Several studies have also centralized training programme at the NSCM and a assessed the relationship between muscle activity of back-up squad of players who participated in the lower limbs and performance of the badminton national training camps held at BAM. The 12 most smash stroke (Sakurai & Ohtsuki, 2000; Tsai, Yang, successful players from each of these two groups, Lin, Huang, & Chang, 2006). Other studies include based on their highest world ranking achieved over those that describe the physical profiles, oxygen the period 2005–2007, were included in the study. deficit, ‘‘explosive’’ muscle strength, and maximal During this period, the physiological fitness of these force production of badminton players from adoles- two groups of players was assessed frequently at the cents to elite seniors (Andersen, Larsson, Overgaard, Sports Science Laboratory/Gymnasium at the Na- & Aagaard, 2007; Chang, Zhang, & Chen, 2006; tional Sports Institute of Malaysia; the world ranking Naughton et al., 1997; Withers et al., 1987). The of each player was also

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