Badminton is one of the most widely played racket sports in the world today. But where does it come from, and how did it establish itself on the international stage? Here’s a brief overview of its evolution, from its creation to becoming an Olympic sport.

🏸 The Origins of Badminton

• In Europe, "battledore and shuttlecock" was a game where players kept a shuttlecock in the air using a racket, without a net. Similar games existed in China, Japan, and India.

• The Indian game "Poona", played in the 19th century, is believed to be the direct ancestor of modern badminton. British officers stationed in India brought this game back to England.

• In 1873, badminton was introduced at a reception at Badminton House, the estate of the Duke of Beaufort. The sport took its current name, and the first official rules were established in 1877.

🥇 The Rise of Badminton to the Olympics

• The International Badminton Federation (IBF) was founded in 1934.

• The first World Championship was held in 1977 in Sweden, with Denmark taking the title.

• Later, badminton was introduced as a demonstration sport at the 1972 Munich Olympics and became an official Olympic sport in 1992 in Barcelona.

• Since then, China, Indonesia, and South Korea have dominated the sport.

🌍 Badminton Today

• With over 220 million players worldwide, badminton is a major global sport.

• It is particularly popular in Asia and Northern Europe.

• Prestigious tournaments such as the All England Open and the Thomas Cup attract the world’s top players.

🌟 Fun Facts About Badminton

• It’s the fastest sport in the world! Shuttlecocks often reach speeds of over 400 km/h in professional smashes.

• A badminton player covers an average of 6 km per match (which is about twice the distance of a tennis player).

• The shortest professional match in history lasted 6 minutes, while the longest one took 2 hours and 41 minutes.