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.