Badminton is one of the oldest and most popular racket sports in the world. It has been around for centuries and can trace its roots back to ancient Greece, India, and China. Although the modern game of badminton was first developed in England during the 19th century, it has since spread to dozens of countries and is now one of the most popular sports in the world. But who were the first winners of badminton tournaments? Let’s take a look at some of the sport’s pioneering champions.
Early Badminton Champions
The first recorded badminton tournament was held in 1873 at the home of Sir George Thomas. Sir George was an avid badminton enthusiast and is known as the “Father of Badminton.” At this tournament, the singles champions were W.H. Bullock and G.C. Grant. The doubles champions were R.H. Martin and S.W. Mitchell.
The first official badminton tournament was the All England Championships, which was first held in 1898. The winners of the first tournament were J.H.E. Hart and M.T. Stammers in the men’s singles event, and E.L.H. and M.E. Chalk in the ladies’ doubles event. In the men’s doubles event, the winners were G.E.L. Bennett and J.H.E. Hart.
The First Professional Badminton Players
The first professional badminton players were the legendary Prakash Padukone and Morten Frost. Prakash Padukone was an Indian badminton player who won the All England Championships in 1980. He was the first Indian to win a major badminton tournament and he went on to become a world champion and national champion.
Morten Frost was a Danish badminton player who won the All England Championships in 1982 and 1983. He was the first European to win a major badminton tournament and he is considered one of the greatest badminton players of all time. In addition to winning the All England Championships, he also won numerous other tournaments including the World Grand Prix, the European Championships, and the Danish National Championships.
The First Women’s Badminton Champions
The first women’s badminton champions were the legendary Judy Hashman and Gao Ling. Judy Hashman was an American badminton player who won the All England Championships in 1985. She was the first American to win a major badminton tournament and she went on to become a world champion and national champion.
Gao Ling was a Chinese badminton player who won the All England Championships in 2002 and 2004. She was the first Chinese player to win a major badminton tournament and she is considered one of the greatest badminton players of all time. In addition to winning the All England Championships, she also won numerous other tournaments including the World Grand Prix, the Asian Championships, and the Chinese National Championships.
The Modern Badminton Champions
The modern era of badminton has seen the emergence of some of the greatest players in the history of the sport. In the men’s singles event, the current world number one is Kento Momota of Japan. He has won the All England Championships twice and is considered one of the greatest badminton players of all time.
In the women’s singles event, the current world number one is Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan. She has won the All England Championships three times and is considered one of the greatest badminton players of all time.
Conclusion
Badminton is a sport that has been around for centuries and has seen many champions come and go. From Sir George Thomas to Kento Momota, the pioneers of badminton have left an indelible mark on the sport and will continue to inspire future generations of badminton players.