Game of badminton
In recent years, badminton has gained unprecedented popularity in India, owing to the rise of international superstars such as Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, and others.
However, India’s history with badminton can be traced all the way back to antiquity. In reality, India was a key player in the development of badminton, which has since become a globally popular sport.
We look at the history of badminton in India and how the subcontinent affected the sport as we know it today in this article.
History
Badminton is an indoor sport in which players knock a shuttlecock back and forth across a net without letting it contact the ground. The goal of the game is to strike the butterfly on the opposite side of the net to prevent the shot from being returned. In a rally, only the serving player can score points. Badminton singles is played between two opponents, whereas doubles is played between two teams of two persons.
Badminton games originated in India, which was also known as “Poona” at the time. It was adopted by British army commanders stationed in India in the 1860s. The officers brought the game back to England, where it quickly gained popularity.
Badminton is one of the fastest racquet sports, demanding excellent conditioning and quick reflexes. In the best international badminton competition, the remote control reaches speeds of over 200 m.p.h. Badminton was initially presented as a full medal event at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, and then again at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
Other international badminton contests include the Olympics, Thomas and Uber Cups (annual World Championships for men and women), World Cup (every two years), Sudirman Cups (every two years), Pan American Games (every four years), US Open, and other international tournaments.
The International Badminton Federation (IBF) was created in 1934 and is based in Gloucestershire, England.
In India, badminton has a long and illustrious history.
The original roots of badminton are unknown at this time, however historical documents from ancient India, China, and Greece contain references to games using balls and rackets. Nearly 2000 years have passed since the first mentions. Battledore and badminton, a children’s game in which participants use a paddle (battledore) to hold a small feather in the air for as long as possible, were also popular in mediaeval Europe. Another similar game played by European nobility in the 17th century was Jeu de Volant.
However, India was responsible for the evolution of the traditional racquet sport into a worldwide renowned sports discipline.
While stationed in India in the 1860s, British army officers were introduced to the home form of the game, which had been played for decades.
They modified the sport by adding a net and naming it Poona or Poonah, after the city (Pune) where the military was stationed. British colonists in India created the first informal set of badminton rules for the game. 1867
Ball badminton, a form of shuttlecock badminton that uses wool balls instead of shuttlecocks, was popular in southern India. The British soldiers in India were also inspired by it, and when playing the game in windy or damp conditions, they utilised balls instead of shuttles.
Soldiers returning from India brought the game back to England, where it was quickly noticed by the former Duke of Beaufort. The Duke of Gloucestershire taught the game to his visitors on a lawn on his estate in Gloucestershire in 1873.
After the name of his estate, Badminton House, the duke dubbed it the “Badminton game.” The name persisted, and badminton became the sport.
Badminton’s popularity grew quickly, and it went from being a recreational activity in the backyard to a prominent club sport.
The first dedicated badminton club, Bath Badminton Club, was founded in 1877, and ten years later, the club published a book about the informal rules developed in India. The regulations of the Bath Badminton Club established the foundation for modern badminton.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) was established six years after the Badminton Association of England in 1899. (BAE). It is one of the world’s oldest badminton governing bodies.
