Mixed Doubles

^Zheng Siwei (R)/Huang Yaqiong of China pose during the awarding ceremony after winning the mixed doubles final match against Watanabe Yuta/Higashino Arisa of Japan at 2023 Indonesia Open badminton tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 18, 2023. ( Image courtesy of Xinhua)

My Current favourite discipline out of the 5 (currently at least, I still love singles but am getting too old for that :P ) Out of all five disciplines (men's doubles and singles, women's doubles and singles, and mixed doubles). I would say Mixed is the most interesting to watch and play (in my opinion).

One of the biggest miss understanding with Mixed I come across is when people believe its a male and a female and the female stands in front. I don't blame them, since one TV/ Youtube that is how the game is shown to the world. However, they forget that both males and females are top players in their country. 

Traditionally mixed doubles format in badminton is designed for teams with one male and one female player. This is a common structure in international, national, and local badminton competitions.

If you're playing in a more casual or recreational setting, you can absolutely have a game of mixed doubles with two male players/ two females, or the the male player at front and the female at the back if everyone is comfortable with that arrangement. In informal play, the rules can be adjusted to suit the preferences of the participants.

However, in a formal competitive setting, the standard rules would typically require one male and one female player for the mixed doubles category. Always make sure that all players are in agreement about the format and rules before starting a game, and most importantly, have fun on the court! 

^ China Open 2023 Quarter-Finals, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (Image courtesy of Malaymail)