History of badminton

Summary

Badminton, the second most played sport globally, has a rich history dating back to ancient China as 'T'au-k'au'. It evolved into battledore and shuttlecock in 1600s England and modern badminton in British India. The first tournament was in 1899, and the sport gained Olympic status in 1992. Governed by the International Badminton Federation since 1934, badminton now includes singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events, with China, Indonesia, Korea, England, and Denmark dominating Olympic wins.

Takeaways

• 🏸 Badminton is the second most played sport globally, with 220 million players.
• 🚀 It is recognized as the fastest racquet sport, with the fastest recorded smash at over 400 km/h.
• 🏓 The shuttlecock used in badminton originated in China more than two thousand years ago.
• 👣 In ancient China, a game similar to badminton was played using feet or body parts, not a racquet.
• 🇬🇧 The modern version of badminton evolved from battledore and shuttlecock, a pastime in 1600s England.
• 🎾 The game was adapted by British military officers in India, adding a net and later adopting shuttlecocks over woollen balls.
• 🇮🇳 The name 'badminton' comes from the Duke of Beaufort's estate, where it was introduced and became popular.
• 🏆 The first open badminton doubles tournament was organized in 1898, leading to the establishment of the England Championships.
• 🌐 The International Badminton Federation was formed in 1934, and the first major IBF tournament, the Thomas Cup, was held in 1948.
• 🏅 Badminton became an official Olympic sport in 1992, with mixed doubles introduced in 1996, and only five countries have won gold medals since its inclusion.

Q & A

What is the global ranking of badminton in terms of popularity?

Badminton is the second most played sport in the world.

How many people play badminton worldwide according to the survey mentioned in the script?

Approximately 220 million people play badminton around the world.

What is the fastest recorded badminton smash speed?

The fastest smash recorded in a real match was more than 400 kilometers per hour, and almost 500 kilometers per hour in a racket test.

Where does the shuttlecock used in badminton originate from?

The shuttlecock originated from China, probably more than two thousand years ago.

How was the ancient game similar to badminton played in China known?

The game was called T'iêng-kû, and it was played using feet or other body parts except hands to hit the shuttlecock.

In which century was modern badminton traced to have been created?

Modern badminton can be traced to the mid-19th century.

Who created modern badminton and where was it created?

Modern badminton was created by British military officers stationed in British India.

What was the initial name of the game that evolved into badminton?

The game initially came to be known as 'Pooné' or 'Poona' after the British garrison town of Pune where it was popular.

Where was the first open badminton doubles tournament held?

The first open badminton doubles tournament was held at the Guildford drill hall.

When was the International Badminton Federation formed?

The International Badminton Federation was formed in 1934.

In which year did badminton become an official Olympic sport?

Badminton became an official Olympic sport in 1992 during the Barcelona Olympic Games.

How many countries have won gold medals in badminton since its introduction to the Olympics?

Only five countries have won gold medals in badminton since its introduction to the Olympics: China, Indonesia, Korea, England, and Denmark.