Badminton at the Rio 2016 Olympics: All you need to know

How does it work?

There are five gold medals on offer: men's and women's singles and doubles, and mixed doubles. Matches are best-of-three games (first to 21 points wins a game) and competitions begin with round-robin groups before progressing to knockout rounds.

Who are the favourites?

China enjoyed a clean sweep of golds in London, and most of those champions will be in Rio.

Star billing goes to the charismatic Lin Dan, who is looking for his third consecutive men's singles title - although his old foe Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and team-mate Chen Long are among those standing in his way.

World number one Carolina Marin of Spain is hoping to become only the second non-Asian Olympic badminton champion by winning the women's singles.

What about the British prospects?

Husband and wife mixed doubles pair Chris and Gabby Adcock are Great Britain's best hope of a medal. They won the World Superseries Finals last year, and are ranked seventh in the world.

When is it on?

Competition runs from 11-20 August.

Anything new for Rio 2016?

The instant review system will be used - it was introduced to the sport in 2013, and is similar to Hawk-Eye in tennis. A random draw for the doubles knockout stages has been introduced - there was controversy at London 2012 when eight players were kicked out after being accused of trying to manipulate the draw.

I didn't know that...

China may be the dominant force in the sport but Britain can boast Olympic champions of a sort. Gillian Gilks and Derek Talbot won the mixed doubles in 1972 when badminton was a demonstration sport.

Previous British medallists:

Two (one silver, one bronze)

Most recent British medal:

2004: Nathan Robertson & Gail Emms (silver, mixed doubles)

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