Putin and Medvedev Play Badminton for Control of Russia

Last month, Dmitri Medvedev announced he will not seek reelection and plans to allow Vladimir Putin to run for the Russian presidency in 2012. Any suspicions of bad blood between the two can be put to rest after watching the above video of Putin and Medvedev engaged in what looks like the most tepid game of badminton ever played. According to the Telegraph, Medvedev is a Badminton enthusiast. "It's not just a game," he says about the game half-enjoyed by nine-year-olds everywhere.

Medvedev posted the video to his Kremlin blog, and he gives an introduction extolling the virtues of Badminton. "Badminton is known to everyone because badminton is played at home, on the street and in school and university sports halls," he says, but then warns, "Those who can really play badminton are few in number."

So, can Medvedev really play badminton? After his monologue, he faces off against the man who will soon take his seat, Vladimir Putin. The two seem rooted to the spot as they flick the shuttlecock back and forth, neither taking advantage of the available space in the apparent airplane hangar where they are playing.

The furious action is enhanced by the soundtrack, a pleasant synth number seemingly lifted from a corporate sexual harassment video.

"Mister Gorbachev, tear down this net, neatly fold it, and place it back in the equipment closet."

Medvedev clashes with Putin... on the badminton court [Telegraph]

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