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History of Badminton

Badminton

Badminton History

The Roots of Badminton

  • Badminton can be traced back over two millennia, with ancient civilizations playing games resembling modern badminton.

Ancient Games Influences

  • Battledore and Shuttlecock (Ancient Greece)

    • Players used paddles to keep a feathered shuttlecock in the air.

  • Ti Jian Zi (China)

    • Kicking a shuttlecock back and forth, promoting agility and coordination.

    • Played as early as 2,000 years ago.

Formation of Modern Badminton

Transition to Modern Game

  • British army officers in Pune (then Poona), India, combined elements of battledore with a net, creating a game called "Poona."

  • Poona became popular among British expatriates, evolving into modern badminton.

The Introduction of Badminton

  • In 1873, the Duke of Beaufort hosted a lawn party that introduced Poona as badminton, named after his estate.

Establishment of Governing Bodies

  • 1877: The Bath Badminton Club established the first official rules, marking a shift from casual play to a more organized format.

  • 1893: The Badminton Association of England (BAE) formed, providing standardized rules and organization.

First Recorded Tournament

  • 1898: The Guilford Badminton Club hosted the first tournament.

  • 1899: The BAE organized the All England Championships, the world's oldest and most prestigious badminton tournament.

International Matches

  • 1903: First international badminton match between Ireland and England, ending 5-2 in favor of England.

Badminton as an Olympic Sport

  • Badminton was included as a demonstration sport in 1972 and became a full medal sport in 1992.

  • China has dominated the sport, winning 41 Olympic medals (20 gold) since its debut in 1988.

Facilities and Equipment

  • Badminton Court: Regulation dimensions for singles and doubles play.

  • Net and Posts: Standard height requirements.

  • Shuttlecocks: Essential for play, made of feathers or synthetic materials.

  • Rackets: Specific design and weight for effective play.

  • Scoreboards: To track points and game progress.

  • Lighting: Required for indoor courts.

  • Safety Equipment: Knee pads and shoulder pads for player safety.

Basic Skills

Key Skills in Badminton

  • Grip: How a player holds the racket affects control and power.

  • Stance: Positioning and balance while preparing to receive or make a shot.

  • Footwork: Movement to effectively reach the shuttlecock, crucial for balance, power, and court coverage.

  • Serve: The shot that initiates each rally, must adhere to specific rules.

Types of Shots

  • Smash: Powerful downward shot aimed to win points.

  • Drop Shot: A soft shot played just over the net.

  • Clear Lob: A high shot aimed at the back of the opponent's court.

The 4 Fundamental Types of Badminton Serves

  • Low Serve: Barely clears the net, lands near the short service line.

  • High Serve: Travels high and deep into the receiver's back court.

  • Flick Serve: Fast and offensive serve aimed at the far service line.

  • Drive Serve: Fast and flat serve directed toward the service area.

Grips Used in Badminton

  • Forehand Grip: For forehand clears, smashes, and drives.

  • Backhand Grip: For backhand drives and serves.

  • Bevel Grip: Suitable for rear-court shots and some net shots.

  • Panhandle Grip: Used for late backhand shots and net kills.

Basic Strokes

  • Overhead Forehand: Commonly the first stroke learned.

  • Overhead Backhand: Often a weakness for many players.

  • Underarm Forehand: A low shot directed on the forehand side.

  • Underarm Backhand: A low shot directed on the backhand side.

Basic Rules

Serving Rules

  • A player must wait for the opponent to be ready before serving.

  • Feet must remain stationary until the serve is made.

  • It is not a fault to miss the shuttle while serving.

Common Faults

  • Shuttle must not be above the waist at service.

  • Correct service court must be observed.

  • The server's feet must remain within the service court during the serve.

Scoring System

  • Matches are best of 3 games to 21 points.

  • Points are scored on every serve, with the winning side adding a point.

  • At 20-all, a 2-point lead is needed to win the game.

  • At 29-all, the first to 30 points wins the game.

  • The side winning a game serves first in the next game.