History of Badminton

The popularity of badminton has soared since its debut in the 1992 Summer Olympic Games. Badminton fans around the world love the game because it requires a level of skill, concentration, and agility to play properly. This unique game has a colorful history.

Battledore?
Thousands of years ago, a game called "battledore and shuttlecock" was popular in Greece, India, and China. This game was comprised of a shuttlecock that was batted back and forth by multiple players. No net was involved, and the object of the game was to keep up the volley as long as possible. Originally a child's game, battledore and shuttlecock evolved into a competitive sport. The game caught on with British soldiers stationed in the area in the 1860-1870s, and they carried it back to their home country.

Popularity Ensues
In 1873, the Duke of Beaufort officially introduced this new fad to England at a party on his estate. The estate, located in Gloucestershire, was called Badminton, which is how the name became associated with the sport.

Badminton continued its rise in popularity through the rest of the century and the beginning of the next.

In 1934, the International Badminton Federation was formed with nine countries included in its membership.
1948 saw the first official IBF tournament, and since then multiple world cups and events have taken place.
Badminton made its Olympic debut in 1992 at the Barcelona games.

Badminton is an extremely competitive sport in many countries and is becoming more and more popular all over the world. It's considered one of the favorite backyard sports of all time.

Whether they're serious players or just starting out, badminton players have one thing in common: they love the physical requirements and fun of the game. Badmintonsource.com has all the essentials you'll need to start enjoying badminton in your own backyard.