Hold it, What?
People play this as a real sport?

I thought it was only a back-yard game that that you had to re-buy every year because the kids break the net and use the rackets to launch rocks.

It's...fun?

Is being a condescending dick a sport where you come from?

Hmmm, not sure how to respond to this.
Trust me, I was being completely serious. I honestly didn't know it was played at a competition level.

They sell them in the toy sections of every grocery and department store. It's a game, like lawn darts and bocci ball that we play when family comes to visit or at picnics. And every time we play it, even now, with my kids, we have to find the least broken rackets and the least squashed birdie to play with.

Seeing it played in competition, makes me think of competitive dodge-ball, something I also didn't know was a real sport other than in gym class.

Although i know some places in the world (probably everywhere)they play it competitively(pro/amateur) ive never had any exposure to it on television in my entire life. It would not be odd at all for people to think of it as just a back yard game as i did most my life. Until the internet i would have ONLY thought it was played that way. I would have equated it to playing croquet. It was made an Olympic sport in 1992 although i can't recall ever seeing it.

Also like sagemind said ive never seen a badminton set that was any more then a cheapish toy set you would buy at Toys R Us. Also as a kid i did love to hit rocks with the rackets

I played it three times a week during my time at university, and we still play doubles at least twice a week these days.

Where do you live that they still sell Lawn Darts in the grocery store?!? ;-)
Now there's a yard game I would love to see played professionally!

It's one of those games that's fun to play with your friends in the back yard until that one super competitive dick comes around, takes it way too seriously and ruins it for everyone. Then it becomes a "sport" rather than a game. Consider: volleyball, softball, ultimate frisbee, bowling, ping pong, curling, Starcraft, and so on.

Wasn't surprised to see "Malaysia" on the shirt, it's a very big sport over there.

Not surprised that it isn't well known as a competitive sport, there are plenty of obscure sports that are regionally popular but don't garner much attention on the world stage.

Every sport ever then?

Well, except the ones originating from games where the winner was determined by which team had the most limbs still attached at the end.

good

It's an Olympic sport, yo! That makes it