Why is badminton so popular in Asia where tennis is not?
Well just based off the other comments on this topic it’s clear why Asians prefer badminton, but that’s only physically. Many of the world’s greatest badminton players come from Asia, and we 0lay this sport since young age. Where I’m from, if you didn’t know about Lee Chong Wei or Lin Dan you would be bullied and mocked at constantly. Badminton is a sport that many people in Asia grew up playing. It’s a sport that many people here are connected through playing. When playing, you have to observe even the slightest details on your opponent, and anticipate where the next ball will move. Through this, you can get to know a person through the way they play. I do not know how else to explain it.
When players win, we celebrate. When players lose, we cry. That’s what bonds us together.
I was astonished when I visited the KL in Malaysia around 2012 during the Olympic season. Most Malaysian were in front of the TV to see the gold-medal hopeful Mr. Lee Chong Wei in the final match of men’s singles badminton. Many citizen cried when their dream broke by a Chinese competitor. I could barely understand the high popularity of badminton in this country.
Tennis also has been loved by many SEA citizens for a long time, especially after colonial times. Many British colonizers had been enjoying tennis in their British private clubs in the SEA colonial space. I heard that local people could not be permitted to enter these areas until independence. Tennis was considered the noble sports, especially during Colonial times. One of the critical reasons also connected with the price problems. To preserve tennis court with grass are requiring comparatively high expenses compare to the badminton which is easily played in any fields.
One more thing would be the weather with high humidity and hot sun. Playing tennis means going outside and hard working under the sun. For local people, it would be hard to understand this behavior, even if tennis was an attractive sport from the British.
Badminton, in my point of view, would be so appropriate choice for the SEA citizen. It is so fun. Moreover, comparatively easy and economical sports, I think.
