The first player to reach 21 points wins a badminton match, Senegalese shuttler Maryame Cissé said, breaking down the rules of a discipline still little known in her home country, Pressafrik reported. Badminton is played either in singles, one against one, or in doubles, two against two, she explained, adding that the first of the two opposing players to reach 21 points takes the match.

Points come two ways, Cissé said: landing the shuttlecock — which she described as a cork base with goose feathers — inside the opponent’s court, or forcing the opponent into a fault.

Cissé’s Account of a Scoring Reform: 15 Points vs. 21

Cissé also pointed to what she called a reform this year, saying that while badminton matches are played to 15 points, the Youth Olympic Games were played to 21 points.

What It Takes Physically: Footwork, Reflexes and Cardio

Badminton demands exceptional physical tools, Cissé said. Players need very strong footwork and sharp reflexes, she said, because it is the fastest racket sport in the world — she put the fastest recorded smash at 550 km/h. Agility and heavy cardio capacity are equally essential, she added.

Her own favorite shot, she said, is the reverse slice.

Cissé’s Star: World No. 1 an Se-young

Cissé closed by naming her sporting idol: South Korea’s world No. 1 An Se-young. “I love her so much, she is a star,” Cissé said of An, adding that in every match she plays, she wins — she simply doesn’t know how to lose.

Questions Readers Ask About Badminton’s Rules

• How many points win a badminton match? According to Cissé, the goal is 21 points, and the first player to reach 21 wins. She also described a reform under which matches are played to 15 points, with the Youth Olympic Games played to 21.
• How is a point scored? A point is won by landing the shuttlecock in the opponent’s court or by making the opponent commit a fault, Cissé explained.
• What equipment does badminton use? Players use rackets and a shuttlecock made of a cork base with goose feathers, as Cissé described it.