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Badminton is a racquet sport that involves players using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. The sport is often played casually as a fun outdoor activity, but it is also played professionally on a rectangular indoor court. The roots of the sport can be traced back to ancient civilizations in Greece, China, and India. The game was first played in England at the Badminton estate in Gloucestershire, which is where the sport gets its name. In India, the sport was first known as Poona, and it was played by British army officers stationed there in the 1860s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First Known As | Poona, after the city of Poona (Pune) in India |
| Derived From | The game Poona, played by British army officers stationed in India in the 1860s |
| Introduced to England | Played at the Badminton estate in Gloucestershire, the country estate of the 9th Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, around 1873 |
| Named After | The Badminton estate in Gloucestershire, England |
| Rule Standardization | The Bath Badminton Club, founded in 1877, published the first official rulebook in 1887 |
| Global Expansion | The formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) in 1893 and the first All England Open Badminton Championships in 1899 |
| Founding Members of the International Federation | England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand |
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What You'll Learn
The game 'Poona'
Badminton was first known as "Poona" or "Poonah" in India, named after the city of Poona (now Pune). It was played by British army officers stationed in India in the 1860s and was a sport typically enjoyed by the elite. The game involved using a feathered shuttlecock and racquets.
Poona is believed to have evolved from an ancient game called "battledore and shuttlecock," which was played in ancient Greece, China, and India. In this precursor to modern badminton, players used a lightweight racquet to hit a shuttlecock back and forth.
The game was taken from India to England, where it was first played in Gloucestershire, at the country estate of the 9th Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, around 1873. The sport was named after this Badminton estate. The Bath Badminton Club, founded in 1877 in Bath, England, played a significant role in formalizing the rules of the game. The club published the first official rulebook in 1887, which laid the foundation for modern badminton.
The game was initially played under the Pune rules until 1887 when J.H.E. Hart of the Bath Badminton Club drew up revised regulations. These rules were revised again in 1890 by Hart and Bagnel Wild. The formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) in 1893 marked a significant step in standardizing the rules and regulations of the sport across England.
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Standardised rules
The standardised rules of badminton were developed in the late 19th century as the sport gained popularity in England. The game itself was derived from "Poona" or "Poonah", played in ancient India and later by British army officers stationed in the country in the 1860s. It was first played in England at the Badminton estate of the Duke of Beaufort around 1873, from which the sport takes its name.
As the sport spread across England, clubs began to form, and the rules started to be standardised. The Bath Badminton Club, founded in 1877, played a pivotal role in formalising the rules. In 1887, the club member J.H.E. Hart drew up the first official rulebook, which laid the foundation for modern badminton. Hart revised the rules again in 1890, and these were published by the Badminton Association of England (BAE) in 1893, marking a significant step in standardising the rules and regulations of the sport.
The BAE launched the sport at a house called "Dunbar" in Portsmouth on 13 September 1893. They organised the first badminton competition, the All England Open Badminton Championships, in 1899, which is considered the world's first badminton tournament. This event is regarded as the birth of competitive badminton and remains one of the sport's most prestigious tournaments today.
The rules of badminton, as standardised by the BAE, include the dimensions of the rectangular court, which is 44 feet (13.4 meters) long and 17 feet (5.2 meters) wide for singles matches, and 20 feet (6.1 meters) wide for doubles matches. A net 5 feet (1.5 meters) high is stretched across the width of the court at its centre. The shuttlecock, or "birdie," is a small cork hemisphere pierced by 16 goose feathers, weighing about 0.17 ounces (5 grams). Synthetic shuttlecocks are also permitted. The badminton rackets are made of lightweight materials such as aluminium, steel, graphite, or carbon fibre, and are available in various sizes and weights to suit different players.
Matches are played in a best-of-three format, with each game played up to 21 points. A player must secure two games to win the match. If a player wins the first two games, the match is concluded without playing the third game. In each game, a player must achieve a 2-point advantage to win. If neither player gains this advantage, the game continues until one player reaches 30 points, at which point the first player to score 30 wins the game. In 2006, the BWF adopted the "rally scoring" system, allowing either side to score a point at any time during the rally, rather than only allowing the serving side to score.
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The Bath Badminton Club
The roots of badminton can be traced back to ancient civilizations, with games involving shuttlecocks or feathered projectiles played in various cultures, including ancient Greece, China, and India. The direct predecessor of badminton, a game called "Poona" or "Poonah," originated in ancient India and was played by British army officers stationed there in the 1860s. It was later introduced to England, where it was first played in Gloucestershire at the Badminton estate of the 9th Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, around 1873. The sport was named after this estate.
The formation of the Bath Badminton Club marked a significant step in the development of badminton. In 1887, J. H. E. Hart of the club drafted the first official rulebook, which laid the foundation for modern badminton. These rules were revised further in 1890 by Hart and Bagnel Wild. The club's efforts to standardize the rules contributed to the expansion of the sport beyond England.
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Global expansion
Badminton's global expansion began in the late 19th century, with the game spreading from India to England and then to other countries, including Scotland, Canada, and Wales. The formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) in 1893 was a significant step in standardizing the rules and regulations of the sport, which laid the foundation for its worldwide propagation. The first All England Open Badminton Championships, considered the world's inaugural badminton tournament, were held in 1899, marking the birth of competitive badminton.
The expansion continued with the founding of the International Badminton Federation (now the Badminton World Federation or BWF) on July 5, 1934. England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand were the original members, with India joining as an affiliate in 1936. This federation further facilitated the sport's reach and influence globally.
Badminton's inclusion as an exhibition sport in the 1972 Olympics and its subsequent debut as an official Olympic event in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics propelled its worldwide popularity. The gold medals in badminton at the Olympics are now considered the most prestigious prizes for individual players.
The BWF organizes several international competitions, including the Thomas Cup, the premier men's international team event first held in 1948–1949, and the Uber Cup, the women's equivalent first held in 1956–1957. These competitions are held once every two years, with more than 50 national teams participating in the qualifying tournaments.
The sport's global expansion has transformed badminton from a leisurely pastime played in royal courts to a widely embraced global sport.
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Ancient origins
Badminton's ancient roots can be traced back to the game "battledore and shuttlecock", which was played in ancient Greece, China, and India. The exact origin of badminton is believed to be in ancient India, where a similar game called "Poona" or "Poonah" was played. It was a sport typically enjoyed by the elite and involved using a feathered shuttlecock and racquets. The game was taken from India to England by British army officers in the 1860s, where it was first played in Gloucestershire, at the Badminton estate of the 9th Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, around 1873. The sport was named after this estate.
The Bath Badminton Club, founded in Bath, England, in 1877, played a pivotal role in formalizing the rules of the game. The club published the first official rulebook in 1887, which laid the foundation for modern badminton. The rules were revised in 1890 by J.H.E. Hart and Bagnel Wild of the Bath Badminton Club. These rule changes further contributed to the evolution of the sport.
In 1893, the formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) marked a significant milestone in the standardization of the rules and regulations of badminton. The BAE officially launched the sport at a house called "Dunbar" in Portsmouth on September 13, 1893. The association also organized the first All England Open Badminton Championships in 1899, considered the world's first badminton tournament. This tournament is regarded as the birth of competitive badminton and remains one of the most prestigious events in the sport today.
The spread of badminton beyond England contributed to its global expansion. The game gained popularity in other countries, including Scotland, Canada, and India. The formation of the International Badminton Federation (now the Badminton World Federation or BWF) in 1934 further facilitated the sport's worldwide reach. These developments transformed badminton from a leisurely pastime played in royal courts to a globally embraced sport.
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Frequently asked questions
Badminton was originally called "Poona", named after the city of Poona (Pune) in India.
Badminton was first played in Gloucestershire, England, at the Badminton estate of the 9th Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, around 1873.
Badminton was taken to England by British army officers who had played the game in India in the 1860s.
The Bath Badminton Club, founded in 1877, played a significant role in formalizing the rules of the game. They published the first official rulebook in 1887, which laid the foundation for modern badminton.
The first All England Open Badminton Championships, considered the world's first badminton tournament, were held in 1899. This marked the birth of competitive badminton.
