Badminton is not only a summertime backyard sport, but it's also a worldwide competition sport that has its origins in ancient Asia and Europe. The history of badminton is long and complicated, with its beginnings based on other ancient games like shuttlecock, battledore and the Indian game "poon" or "poona." Throughout the centuries, badminton has developed into a widely recognized sport that people of all ages play throughout the world.
Origins
Badminton was derived from the ancient children's games called shuttlecock and battledore, which originated in Europe and Asia more than 2,000 years ago, according to the Badminton World Federation. Shuttlecock and battledore involved hitting a feathered shuttlecock with small rackets back and forth between two players, without letting the shuttlecock touch the ground. Badminton developed from these games in ancient Egypt and Greece, notes the University of Southern Mississippi. In the 1860s, British military officers stationed in India learned the game known as "poona" and brought the game back to England. In 1873, the Duke of Beaufort threw a party at his Gloucestershire estate, which was dubbed "Badminton." During the party, attendants played the game brought back from India, kick-starting the game's popularity in England and giving it the name "The Game of Badminton."
Development
In 1887, the first English group for the sport -- called the Bath Badminton Club -- standardized the rules of badminton, modifying the rules from poona in India, according to the University of Southern Mississippi. Eight years later, the Badminton Association of England was founded and to this day still governs the game's rules worldwide. The first badminton tournament was held in England in 1898, with a nationwide championship held in 1899, notes the Badminton World Federation. Interest in the sport spread to the U.S., Canada, Demark, France, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand and Holland during the 1930s, which prompted the establishment of the International Badminton Federation, or "IBF," in 1934.
Significance
By the 1920s, England had 300 badminton clubs, growing to 500 clubs 10 years later and skyrocketing to 9,000 clubs in the British Isles by the end of World War II, says the University of Southern Mississippi. The IBF held the Thomas Cup as the first world tournament in 1948, followed by badminton's induction as a Commonwealth Games sport in 1966, according to the Badminton World Federation. By that time, badminton included similar competition categories as tennis -- singles and doubles, men and women singles or doubles, and mixed doubles. Badminton was introduced as a demonstration sport during the Olympic Games in Munich, Germany in 1972. Finally in 1992, badminton premiered as an Olympic sport at the games held in Barcelona, Spain.
Modern Day
Today, badminton is still a popular sport throughout the world, with numerous competitions every year. Badminton is still a program sport included in the Olympics, with men and women competing in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, according to Badminton Australia. Not including the Olympic Games, there are seven different world competition events for badminton each year, including the Uber Cup for women, the Sudirman Cup for mixed doubles, the World Juniors competition, the World Grand Prix Finals, the World Championships and the World Cup, says the University of Southern Mississippi.
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