Comparison of some antropometric and physical parameters of Turkish, Austrian, Belgian and Hungarian National Team Players Participated İn Under-17 European Badminton Championship

In this study, it was aimed to compare some physical and antropometric parameters of Turkish, Austrian, Belgian and Hungarian national team players participated in under-17 European Badminton Championship. A total of 32 volunteers aged between 14 and 16 from Turkish national badminton team and teams from Austria, Belgium and Hungary that contained 8 players (4 female and 4 male) took part in the under-17 European Badminton Championship were included in the study.Physical and antropometric parameters of samples that were height, body weight, diameter, circumference, lenght, skinfold, sistolic and diastolic blood pressures, relaxed pulse, vertical jump, body fat percentage, flexibility, upper leg and hand power were measured. Obtained data such as body mass index, body fat percentage, total fat weight, non-fat body weight, somatotype (endomorph, mesomorph, ectomorph), anaerobic power (Lewis nomography), relative upper leg power, relative right and left hand power were evaluated using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 program as 11 variables formulated. Data were examined with ?WINK SDA 6? package programe.In the sudy, it was determined that the average age for all players was 15.34±0.82 years, body weight was 67.68±5.83 kg in males, 59,30±8,11 kg in females, and the height was 177.00±7.08 cm for males and 165.47±7,84 cm for females, and trained 5.21±0.94 day/week being twice daily and 3.15±0.96 min/h. It was determined that the players are started to play badminton when they are 8 years old in Belgium and Hungary, and 9.63 years old in Turkey and 9.37 years old in Austria. Body fat percentage in male badminton players from Austria (16.49±2.75%) and Hungary (15.59±2.34%) were slightly higher than normal values, however it was in normal range in Turkey (14.34±0.44%) and Belgium (14.79±1.45%). In females, body fat percentage was higher than normal values in Hungarian (28.10±1.10%) as leading team and Austrian (25.91±5.09%) and Belgian teams (26.13±3.10%) although it was in normal range in Turkish team (24.21±3.64%). Values of somatotype of badminton players, means of male players being mesomorph whereas females being endo-mesomorhp component were observed. Flexibility values of Turkish national badminton players (36,50 cm) were significantly higher than Austrian players (26,50 cm).Statistically significant differences were seen in relaxed diastolic blood pressure between Turkish and Hungarian teams, in upper leg power between Hungarian and Belgian teams and in biceps values between Austrian and Hungarian teams in male players (p<0.05). However in female players there were statistically significant difference in relaxed heart rate and relaxed diastolic blood pressure values between Turkish and Austrian teams (p<0.05).No statistically significan differences were observed between Turkish, Austrian, Belgian and Hungarian national badminton team?s male and female players regarding body mass index, body fat percentage, non-fat body weight and total fat somatotype (endomorph, mesomorph and ectomorph), vertical jump, anaerobic power, flexibility (except for female players), relaxed heart beat number (except for female players), right and left hand holding power with relative power, upper leg power (except for male players), relative upper leg power, skinfold, circumference, diameter and lenght values (p>0.05).In conclusion, Turkish national badminton team players in general had similar physical and antropometric traits in comparison to Austrian, Belgium and Hungarian players.Key words: Antropometry, badminton, physical, national team, parameter, body composition.