Kick The Shuttlecock Editorial Photo

People kicking shuttlecock in front of a door of a hutong courtyard. Shuttlecook kicking is a traditional Asian game in which players aim to keep a heavily weighted shuttlecock in the air by using their bodies, apart from the hands, unlike in similar games peteca and indiaca. The game is played on a court similar to badminton and volleyball, or be played artistically, among a circle of players in a street or park, with the objective to keep the shuttle up and show off skills. In Vietnam, it is known as đá cầu and is the national sport, especially played in Hanoi. In recent years, the game has gained a formal following in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere. In English, both the sport and the object with which it is played are referred to as shuttlecock or featherball.