Experts believe that badminton can be traced back to ancient times, as records indicate that a very early form of the game was often played in ancient Greece. Hanetsuki, a game similar to badminton (played without a net and with a wooden paddle called a hagoita) has been played in Japan since as far back as the 16th century. In the Western world, the game of badminton has been known by many names throughout its existence, such as battledore and shuttlecock.
The familiar modern form of badminton can be traced back to India. During the late 1800's, British military soldiers were stationed in India and began to take an interest in a locally played game, called poona or pooppanthu vilayattam, meaning "flower ball game".As the British soldiers returned home, the game remained close to their hearts. The sport was finally launched in Great Britain in 1973 at Badminton House in Gloucestershire, owned by the great Duke of Beaufort. For the first initial years of British play, the game was referred to as "the game of badminton", and was eventually shortened simply to "badminton".For fourteen years, the British continued to play badminton under the rules which were established by the Indians.
In 1887, the Bath Badminton Club discussed, voted, and established rules and guidelines to their liking. It was 1893 before these rules were actually published and then applied to the game by the Badminton Association of England.As of 1899, the All England Open Badminton Championship was established and officially became the very first badminton competition in the world. The International Badminton Federation (now titled the Badminton World Federation) was later established in 1934. Its founding members consisted of Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, Wales, France, The Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, and Scotland.
India even joined in 1936.The Badminton World Federation is currently known as the governing body of the sport of badminton. Five separate regional confederations are now affiliated with the Badminton World Federation, including the Badminton Asia Confederation, Badminton Federation of Africa, Badminton Pan Am (consisting of North and South America), Badminton Europe, and Badminton Oceania.Today, badminton has become a popular backyard family sport and its popularity still continues to spread across the world. From the Summer Olympics to the Sudirman Cup to the Uber Cup to casual summer barbeques, badminton has definitely made its mark on the world and is clearly here to stay.
