Last updated on March 9th, 2021 at 03:59 pm
Badminton History: Everything You Need To Know
Badminton History: How much do you know? What is the sports history? Here is a brief history of badminton, in this article we will take a look at the origins of badminton as well as the history and development of the sport we know and play today.
What Is Badminton?
For those not familiar this is a racquet/racket sport played with a shuttlecock and two or four players on a court with a net in the middle. The aim of the game is to score points by forcing your opponent to into missing their shot, thus meaning the shuttlecock hit the ground or net. In order to score a point the shuttlecock must land inside the court if your opponent does not hit it.
Why Is It Called Badminton?
How did badminton get its name? The name badminton seemingly comes from home of the Duke of Beaufort in the English county of Gloucestershire. His house on the estate was called Badminton House. The irony of this being the estate is now better known for holding the Badminton Horse Trials.
Who Invented Badminton?
The history goes way back to the mid-1800’s when British Army officers stationed in India created the game. Although other connections and influences may have come from India & China with many versions of the game being played in the Far East by children for centuries.
A children’s game in England called “battledore and shuttlecock” involved a paddle (a battledore) keeping a small feathered cork (shuttlecock) in the air for as long as possible. This had become popular from medieval times.
When a net was added the game became a competitive sport called “poona”. Although a small woollen ball would be used at first, soon the shuttlecock took over. Around the 1870s the rules and regulations were drawn up.
The game made it’s way back to England when army officers returned home around 1873. The story goes that following a Badminton House lawn party held by the Duke of Beaufort some of his guests played a game of “The Badminton Game”.
What Rules?
Following its popularity the first official written rules were drawn up in 1877 by the Bath Badminton Club.
Skip forward to 1893 to a key moment in the history of the sport is when another set rules and regulations, which are similar to the rules of today were published by The Badminton Association of England.
In 1899 they create the All England Open Badminton Championships, the first official competition in the world.
In 1934 The International Badminton Federation (IBF) was created by Canada, Denmark, England, France, the Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales, India joined as an affiliate two years later in 1936.
Is Badminton An Olympic Sport?
The game finally received a boost in status when it became an Olympic sport in 1992 Barcelona Games having being an exhibition sport in 1972 Munich Games and the 1988 Seoul Games.
In 2006 it’s members all 176 of them voted to change their name to Badminton World Federation or (BWF).
The History of Badminton In Summary
Is badminton a sport? You bet it is! What is the origin of badminton? Well you could say India but for the game we know and play today you would lean more towards England. In the end both countries contributed and can lay claim to badminton’s origin.
The sport may well have started in England/India but the sport has been dominated over the years by the Asian countries such as China, Malaysia, South Korea and Indonesia and India. Denmark is probably Europe’s most consistent country for producing top talent.
Who Tops The Rankings Now?
Recent badminton history is still dominated by Asian countries with the top 10 ranking from August 2015 proving it.
Men’s Top 10 Rankings
| Rank | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chen Long | (China) |
| 2 | Jan O Jorgensen | (Denmark) |
| 3 | Kento Momota | (Japan) |
| 4 | Srikanth | (India) |
| 5 | Lin Dan | (China) |
| 6 | Viktor Axelsen | (Denmark) |
| 7 | Chou Tien Chen | (Taiwan) |
| 8 | Parupalli Kashyap | (India) |
| 9 | Wang Zhengming | (China) |
| 10 | Son Wan Ho | (South Korea) |
Previous world ranking history paints a similar story.
Feel like improving your skills
That’s just about sums up everything you need to know about badminton history.
It’s now time to take out your racquet and smash some shuttlecocks!!! Why not join a badminton club or school.
If you would like more help with other areas of the sport take a look at these articles?
- Choosing The Right Badminton Racket: A Beginners Guide
- Find Out About One of the Sports Best Players
- How To Minimise Injury
- Techniques For The Beginners
- The Best Way To Get Fit & Stay Fit
- Which Type of Shuttlecock is Best?
I will be adding lots more shuttlecock goodness to the site very soon. Don’t forget to check back regularly.
Other Links
If you require more information on the sport you can head to Badminton England or the BWF.
