Nation's badminton boom sends shuttlecock prices soaring

Quality the key

Her centers are also testing alternative brands and synthetic shuttlecocks despite quality trade-offs.

"The synthetic ones cost roughly the same as those made of natural feathers, but last two to three times longer in recreational play, although some senior players notice clear differences during play, such as those in the netting techniques," she said.

However, for serious players, there is no substitute for the quality of feather shuttlecocks, said Wang the sporting goods supplier. "Enthusiasts prefer high-end gear, some of which require manual work, like lacquer art for the racket design," he said.

Their preference is the premium Yonex shuttlecock, whose prices have effectively doubled. For example, the AS-05 model wholesale price has soared from 92 to 145 yuan, reaching 180-190 yuan at retail due to scarcity, he said.

Wang called on dealers and players to refrain from hoarding shuttlecocks, as it will only further increase prices and cause market chaos. He also warned that shuttlecocks start to degrade in quality after being stored for about half a year.

As a big market dealer, his company has made a point of limiting its customers' purchases to ensure broad access.

Despite potential windfalls, it's important to maintain the health of the market, he said.

Wang also urged players to destroy used shuttlecock tubes, as he has noticed how authentic packaging has been repurposed to sell counterfeit goods.

However, he remains positive about badminton's future development as a popular sport. "Even with the price hike, it might still be affordable for individual players who can share the costs," Wang said.

Despite the rising costs, Zhao, the player organizer, is relieved that many of his regular members have shown no waning passion for badminton. Quitting the sport has never crossed his own mind, he said, adding the rhythmic thwack of a shuttlecock is a form of therapy.

"After a long day at work, I don't want to talk to anyone. I just want to go to the gym, pick up a racket, and hear that sharp 'pop' of the shuttle. That's when my mind really goes quiet," he said.

Playing badminton has not only honed his skills and improved his physical strength, but gives him a social life and a sense of identity.

"I have made friends with many people who I would otherwise not have known if it weren't for badminton," he said.

Playing together, blowing off steam, team bonding, and after-match social gatherings more than compensate for the price surge, he said.

"Badminton gives me something nothing else does. It's my stress relief, my joy, my way to switch off from the world," he said.