
Badminton is believed to have originated in the 1860s as a game called Poona or Pune, played by British army officers stationed in India. In 1873, the 9th Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, brought the sport to England, where it was first played at his estate in Gloucestershire, which was named Badminton. The Bath Badminton Club formalised the rules of the game in 1877, and the Badminton Association of England was formed in 1893, launching the sport officially and standardising the rules and regulations. The first All England Open Badminton Championships, considered the world's first badminton tournament, was held in 1899, marking the beginning of badminton's global expansion. The sport has since evolved, with rule changes and advancements in equipment, and it became an official Olympic sport in 1992.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Badminton |
| Origin | Derived from the game "Poona" played by British army officers stationed in India in the 1860s |
| Introduction to England | Introduced in Gloucestershire, at the Badminton estate of the Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, around 1873 |
| First Rules | Written rules were devised by the Bath Badminton Club in 1877 |
| Standardization of Rules | The Badminton Association of England (BAE) formed in 1893 to standardize rules and regulations |
| First Tournament | The first All England Open Badminton Championships, considered the world's first badminton tournament, was held in 1899 |
| Global Expansion | The formation of the BAE and the first tournament laid the foundation for badminton's global expansion |
| World Governing Body | The International Badminton Federation (IBF), now the Badminton World Federation (BWF), was formed in 1934 |
| Rackets | Initially made of a single piece of wood with animal gut strings; later, aluminium, steel, and carbon fibre were used, and now graphite composite rackets are standard |
| Shuttlecocks | Originally made from bird feathers; now, synthetic shuttlecocks are used in tournaments |
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What You'll Learn

British Army officers in India
The sport of badminton underwent a significant change in the 1800s when British Army officers in India introduced a net and court to the local game of "Poona", which was played in the city of Poona (now Pune). The officers brought the game back to England, where it was first played in Gloucestershire, at the Badminton House—the country estate of the 9th Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, about 1873. The sport was named after this Badminton estate.
In 1877, the Bath Badminton Club was formed and introduced the first set of written rules for the game. The club's members included J.H.E. Hart, who played a significant role in revising the rules in 1887 and 1890. In 1893, the formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) marked a significant step in standardizing the rules and regulations of the sport. The BAE officially launched the sport at a house called "Dunbar" in Portsmouth on September 13, 1893, and organized the first All England Open Badminton Championships in 1899, considered the world's first badminton tournament.
These developments laid the foundation for badminton's global expansion. The rules and equipment of the sport continued to evolve, with the introduction of overhead serves in 1983 and the adoption of a "rally scoring" system in 2006, where either side can score at any time. The feathers of the shuttlecock were standardized for international play, and synthetic shuttlecocks were introduced in tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation starting in 2021.
The formation of the International Badminton Federation (now the Badminton World Federation, or BWF) in 1934 as the sport's world governing body further contributed to the standardization and global development of badminton. India joined the BWF as an affiliate in 1936.
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The game 'Poona'
The game of badminton was first played in India in the 1800s under the local name "Poona", or "Poona Game". It was played with a net and players would hit a shuttlecock back and forth, in a non-competitive manner. In the mid-1800s, the game was adopted by British officers stationed in India and brought back to England. The game was then introduced to the guests of the Duke of Beaufort at his home, Badminton, in Gloucestershire, England, where it became popular. The name "Poona" comes from the city of Poona (now known as Pune) in India.
The rules of the game were first revised by the Bath Badminton Club in 1877, and the game was played under these "Pune rules" until 1887 when J.H.E. Hart of the Bath Badminton Club drew up revised regulations. These rules were further revised in 1890 by Hart and Bagnel Wild. The formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) in 1893 marked a significant step in standardising the rules and regulations of the sport. The BAE published the official rules of badminton in 1893 and launched the sport at a house called "Dunbar" in Portsmouth.
The game Poona is derived from the ancient game of battledore and shuttlecock, which was played in ancient Greece, China, India, and England. The roots of the game can be traced back to the 1600s in England, where it was an upper-class pastime. The game was also played in earlier cultures in Japan, China, and Egypt, with a different form that involved using a wooden bat to keep a woollen ball afloat.
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Standardised rules
The sport of badminton underwent its first significant change in the 1800s when British army officers in India introduced a net and court to the local game of battledore and shuttlecock, played in ancient Greece, China, and India. The game was then brought to England by retired officers and played at the Duke of Beaufort's Badminton House in Gloucestershire, from which the sport takes its name. The Bath Badminton Club was established in 1877 and introduced the first set of written rules. The sport was played under the Pune, or Poona, 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 standardising the rules and regulations of the sport. The BAE published the rules and officially launched the sport in 1893.
The first All England Open Badminton Championships, considered the world’s first badminton tournament, were held in 1899. These developments laid the foundation for badminton’s global expansion. The rules of badminton have continued to evolve over time. The scoring system saw a significant change in 2001. Up until then, the players played up to 15 points, and only the serving side could score points. Since the change, players compete in a rally point system up to 21 points, and either side can score at any time. In 1983, a rule was introduced to allow players to serve overhead, but this was changed again in 2006 to below the waist of the server.
Matches are currently played in a best-of-three format, with each game played to 21 points. A player must win two games to win the match. If a player does not reach a two-point advantage, the first player to score 30 points wins the game. In the first rally of any doubles game, the serving pair may decide who serves, and the receiving pair may decide who receives. The players change ends at the start of the second game and, if the match reaches a third game, they change ends again when the leading player or pair reaches 11 points. If a let is called, the rally is stopped and replayed with no change to the score. This may occur due to some unexpected disturbance, such as a shuttlecock landing on the court.
The International Badminton Federation (now the Badminton World Federation or BWF), the sport’s world governing body, was formed in 1934. The IBF established standardised rules for equipment and clothing, as well as the playing surface, which is now covered with a synthetic mat built for badminton. The BWF has also attempted to introduce a new scoring system, in which the 21x3 scoring system may be replaced with 15x3. This move has been controversial among badminton players.
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Badminton Association of England
Badminton's roots can be traced back to ancient Greece, China, and India, where a similar game called battledore and shuttlecock was played. The modern sport of badminton, however, is derived from a game called "Poona" or "Pune," which was played by British army officers stationed in India in the 1860s. When the game was brought to England, it was first played in Gloucestershire, on the estate of the 9th Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, around 1873. The sport was named after this Badminton estate.
The Bath Badminton Club was established in Bath, England, in 1877, and introduced new rules to the game. However, it was the formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) in 1893 that marked a significant step in standardizing the rules and regulations of badminton. The BAE published the rules in 1893 and officially launched the sport in Portsmouth on September 13 of that year. The association also started the first badminton competition, the All England Open Badminton Championships, in 1899, which is considered the world's first badminton tournament. Singles competitions were added in 1900, and an England–Ireland championship match was introduced in 1904.
The Badminton Association of England was originally established in Portsmouth but is now based in Milton Keynes. The association has several departments, including Elite Play, Events, Membership, Development, and Coaching. It works closely with the 41 Counties of England to support the club and league structures. The National Badminton Centre in Loughton, Milton Keynes, is a purpose-built elite training facility that serves as a base for the Great Britain and England badminton squads. It offers badminton courts, meeting rooms, and accommodation facilities.
The Badminton Association of England was a founding member of the International Badminton Federation (IBF), which was established in 1934 and later renamed the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The IBF was formed as the world governing body for badminton, and its first world championships were held in 1977. The BWF has continued to play a significant role in the sport, introducing a new tournament structure and making changes to equipment and clothing rules.
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Badminton World Federation
The Badminton World Federation (BWF), originally named the International Badminton Federation (IBF), was established on 5 July 1934 with nine founding member associations: England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. India joined as an affiliate in 1936. The IBF was formed to serve as the world governing body for badminton, a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net.
The roots of badminton can be traced back to ancient Greece, China, and India, where a similar game called battledore and shuttlecock was played. In India, badminton was first known as "Poona," after the city of Poona (Pune), and it was played by British army officers stationed in the country in the 1860s. The sport later took its official name from the Badminton estate in Gloucestershire, England, where it was first played in 1873.
The Bath Badminton Club, established in 1877, introduced new rules to the game, and in 1893, the Badminton Association of England (BAE) published these rules and officially launched the sport. The BAE also started the first badminton competition, the All England Open Badminton Championships, in 1899. These developments laid the foundation for badminton's global expansion, and in 1934, the IBF was formed to govern the sport internationally.
The BWF has since introduced several changes to the sport, including new scoring systems, rule changes, and equipment standardization. In 2006, the BWF adopted the "rally scoring" system, where either side can score at any time, replacing the previous system where only the serving side could score. The BWF has also introduced new tournament structures, such as the BWF Super Series, to provide a circuit for the world's elite players.
The BWF World Championships, first held in 1977, feature the top 64 players in the world, with a maximum of four participants from each country. While the BWF governs the sport globally, it also recognizes the importance of inclusivity and participation, promoting World Badminton Day to encourage people worldwide to engage in the sport.
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Frequently asked questions
The roots of badminton can be traced back to ancient Greece, China, and India. In the 1860s, British army officers stationed in India played a version of the game called "Poona", introducing a net and court.
The 9th Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, is credited with bringing badminton to England in 1873. It was first played at his estate in Gloucestershire, which gave the sport its name.
The sport was named after the Badminton estate in Gloucestershire, England, where it was first played in England in the 1870s. In India, the game was known as "Poona", named after the city of Poona (now Pune).
The Bath Badminton Club, established in 1877, introduced the first written rules of badminton. The rules were revised in 1887 and again in 1890 by J.H.E. Hart of the club. The Badminton Association of England (BAE) published these rules in 1893, marking a significant step in standardizing the sport globally.











































