I totally get badminton having played in it for years growing up. In a lot of asian countries, badminton is like baseball here in the USA. Everyone plays it even informally on the streets or in a back yard. It's a totally demanding sport, cause you need to be able to move fast and jump high to get the smashes.
The one I don't get is equestrian. I mean, it's the horses that are doing most of the workout. That and shooting, even skeet shooting.
Oh, another sport that I don't consider sport is GOLF! (OK... flame away, I'm ready!).