Purposes of this study were firstly, to determine the notational singles match analysis results of male badminton players and secondly, to determine relationships between notational singles match analysis determined strokes and foot movements in male badminton players, who participated in the African Badminton Championships. Twenty male singles matches from the team and individual events of the 2014 All Africa Badminton Championships were recorded live via video cameras and analysed using the Dartfish video analysis software package. Average match duration (1470.4 s), real time (432.9 s) and percentage of real time played (29.8%), number of rallies per match (68.4) and shots per rally (6.5) were calculated. Average shots per rally were found to be 6.5 and the work density, .4. Average stroke frequency per match was: drive – 122.1, clear – 118, smash – 56.2, net strokes – 54.3, drop-shot – 24.2 and the round-the-head stroke – 1.2. Foot movements delivered the following average results per match: chasse-step – 174.6, shuffle – 161.7, split-step – 61.6, half-lunge – 52.20, forward-lunge – 46.1 and scissors kick – 38.3. Significant Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficients existed between various foot movements and strokes. The study confirmed the applicability of computerised notational analyses in determining singles badminton match characteristics.

And external match load determining method. Twenty-one players who participated in selected badminton championships during the 2014/2015 season served as subjects. The heart rate (HR) values and global positioning system (GPS) data of each player were obtained using a fix Polar HR Transmitter Belt and MinimaxX GPS device. Moderate significant Spearman's rank correlations were found between HR and absolute duration (r = 0.43 at a low intensity [LI] and 0.44 at a high intensity [HI]), distance covered (r = 0.42 at a HI), and player load (r = 0.44 at a HI). Results also revealed an opposite trend for external and internal measures of load, as the average relative HR value was found to be the highest for the HI zone (54.1%) compared with the relative measures of external load where average values (1.29–9.89%) were the lowest for the HI zone. In conclusion, our findings show that results of an internal and external badminton match load determining method are more related to each other in the HI zone than other zones and that the strength of relationships depend on the duration of activities that are performed in especially LI and HI zones. Overall, trivial to moderate relationships between results of an internal and external match load determining method in male, singles badminton players reaffirm the conclusions of others that these constructs measure distinctly different demands and should therefore be measured concurrently to fully understand the true requirements of badminton match play....

Introduction: Normative data on handgrip strength (HGS) and body mass index (BMI) are scarce among adolescents in the Nigerian context. The aims of this study were to evaluate patterns of HGS in relation to gender and age in Nigerian adolescents and its correlation with BMI.Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1966 participants (1275 males) and (691 females) aged 12–20 years in Northern Nigeria. Body mass and height were measured. HGS was assessed using a dynamometer.Results: The right HGS (RHGS) was significantly higher than the left HGS (LHGS) (t = 21.337, p < 0.05). There were significant age differences in the RHGS and the LHGS (p < 0.05); however, no significant difference occurs at 12–14 years. Males participants aged 16–20 years had significantly higher RHGS values than females of the same age (p < 0.0038). Conversely, males aged 15–20 years had significantly higher LHGS values than females of the same age (p < 0.0038). There was a significant interaction between gender and age for the RHGS (F = 72.2, p < 0.05) and the LHGS (F = 92.1, p < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the BMI and RHGS (r = 0.480, p < 0.01) and the LHGS (r = 0.465, p < 0.01).Conclusion: There are gender and age difference in the HGS of Nigerian adolescents, with the dominance of the RHGS in both genders. HGS correlated with BMI. This normative data on HGS may serve as baseline data for future comparative studies assessing HGS among the adolescent population in Nigeria.

The study's purpose was to establish the inertial sensors-containing device (ISCD)-determined match characteristics that predict elite, male badminton players’ performance levels. Twenty-two (22) male single players (aged: 23.39 ± 3.92 years), who represented 10 African countries, participated in the study. Players were categorized as successful and less-successful players according to the results of five championships during two seasons. ISCD units (Catapult MinimaxV4), Polar Heart Rate Transmitter Belts, and digital video cameras were used to collect match data. ISCD-determined variables were corrected for match duration, and independent t-tests, cluster analysis, and a binary forward stepwise logistic regression were used for statistical analyses. A Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROCC) indicated the validity of the group classification model. High-intensity accelerations per second were identified as the only ISCD-determined variable that showed a significant difference (p = 0.05) between groups. Furthermore, only high-intensity accelerations per second (p = 0.03) and low-intensity efforts per second (p = 0.04) were identified as significant predictors of group classification, with 76.88% of players that could be classified back into their original groups by making use of the ISCD-based logistic regression formula. The ROCC showed a value of 0.87. The identification of the last-mentioned ISCD-determined variables for the attainment of badminton performances emphasizes the importance of using badminton drills and conditioning techniques to improve not only the physical fitness levels of players but also their ability to accelerate at high intensities.

This study aims to investigate the correlation between hand dominance, body mass index (BMI), and isometric grip strength among undergraduate students in the Human Kinetics Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria.A correlational research design was employed, with 25 undergraduate students aged 18 to 23 selected via purposive sampling. Data on hand dominance, BMI, and grip strength were collected using standardised tools and analysed using IBM SPSS version 20. The study found a weak positive correlation between BMI and both dominant and non-dominant hand grip strength. Additionally, a significant difference in grip strength was observed between dominant and non-dominant hands. However, a weak negative correlation was noted between age and grip strength. These findings suggest that higher BMI may be associated with stronger grip strength in both hands among undergraduate students. Moreover, hand dominance significantly influences grip strength. The study underscores the importance of considering these factors when assessing grip strength. However, limitations include the small sample size and the cross-sectional design, warranting caution in generalising the results. Future research should explore these relationships in larger and more diverse populations, employing longitudinal study designs to capture changes over time. Additionally, investigating additional anthropometric variables could provide a more comprehensive understanding of grip strength determinants.