Badminton is a sport that has been around for centuries and has a long and interesting history. It is a racquet sport played by two or four players using a shuttlecock. The name ‘badminton’ is derived from the Duke of Beaufort’s home in Gloucestershire in England, which was called ‘Badminton House’. But what is the old name for badminton?
Origins of Badminton
The origins of badminton come from a game called ‘Poona’, which was played in India in the early 19th century. This game was brought to England by British officers in the 1870s and was first played in Gloucestershire at the Duke of Beaufort’s estate. The game was initially called ‘Poona’ and was played with a shuttlecock and two racquets, similar to how it is played today. This game gained popularity in England and the name was eventually changed to ‘Badminton’.
Early Rules and Regulations
Badminton was first played under the rules and regulations of the Bath Badminton Club, which was founded in 1877 in England. The rules of the game were quite different back then and it was played with an outdoor net, which was lower than the modern net. The game was also played with a shuttlecock made of feathers, which was harder to control compared to the modern shuttlecocks made of plastic or cork.
Badminton Becomes an Olympic Sport
Badminton was officially recognized as a competitive sport in 1934 by the International Badminton Federation (IBF). It was first included in the Olympic Games in 1992 in Barcelona and has been an Olympic sport ever since. Badminton is now played in more than 150 countries around the world, making it one of the most popular sports in the world.
Conclusion
Badminton is a sport that has been around for centuries and has evolved over time. It originally came from a game called ‘Poona’, which was played in India in the early 19th century. The game was brought to England by British officers and was first played in Gloucestershire. The name of the game was eventually changed to ‘Badminton’ and it gained popularity in England and other countries. Badminton was officially recognized as a competitive sport in 1934 and it was included in the Olympic Games in 1992.