Key People in Badminton History

Key Contributors to the History of Badminton

• Duke of Beaufort: Developed the game "Poona" at his Badminton House in the early 1870s, which later evolved into badminton.
• Isaac Spratt: Published the first official rules for the game of badminton in 1873.
• Sir George Thomas: A British player who won 21 All England titles between 1903 and 1928, making significant contributions to the sport's early development.
• Frank Devlin: An English player who won numerous titles and played a vital role in promoting badminton in the early 20th century.
• Judy Devlin: Achieved great success in women's badminton, winning numerous All England titles and contributing to the growth of the women's game.
• Morten Frost: A Danish player and coach who made significant contributions to the modernization and development of badminton in the late 20th century.
• Li-Ning: A former Chinese badminton player who founded the Li-Ning Company, which has been instrumental in promoting the sport through sponsorships and equipment.
• Lin Dan: One of the most successful Chinese badminton players, known as "Super Dan," who has won multiple Olympic and World Championship titles.
• P. Gopichand: An Indian badminton player turned coach who has trained several successful players, including P.V. Sindhu, and contributed to the sport's popularity in India.

History of Badminton and Its Evolution Over Time

• Badminton has evolved significantly from its early origins to becoming an Olympic sport.

Early Origins: Ancient and Medieval Period

• The origins of badminton can be traced back over 2,000 years to ancient civilizations in China, Greece, and India.
• A game called "battledore and shuttlecock" was played in ancient Greece and China.
• Players hit a shuttlecock back and forth using small paddles.
• In medieval Europe, a similar pastime was enjoyed by children and adults, with the goal of keeping the shuttlecock in the air for as long as possible.

British Influence: Poona and Shuttlecock (19th Century)

• The modern version of badminton has its roots in British India in the mid-19th century.
• British army officers stationed in India played a game called "Poona", named after the city of Pune, where it was popular.
• The game involved a net and was more competitive than its earlier forms.
• When the British officers returned to England, they introduced the game, which soon gained popularity.

Official Recognition and the Birth of Modern Badminton (1870s)

• In 1873, the Duke of Beaufort hosted a party at his estate, Badminton House in Gloucestershire, where the game was formally Introduced to the English elite.
• The game was named "Badminton" after the estate, and it quickly gained recognition.
• In 1877, the Bath Badminton Club developed the first official rules of the game.

Formation of Governing Bodies (1890s - 1930s)

• 1893: The Badminton Association of England (BAE) was founded and became the sport's first official governing body.
• 1899: The first-ever All England Open Badminton Championships was held.
• It became one of the most prestigious tournaments.
• 1934: The International Badminton Federation (IBF) (now known as the Badminton World Federation - BWF) was established.
• Founding members Included England, Wales, Scotland, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

Global Expansion and Olympic Recognition (1940s - 2000s)

• The sport spread globally, especially in Asia and Europe.
• Nations like China, Indonesia, Denmark, and Malaysia became dominant forces.
• 1992: Badminton was officially included in the Olympic Games in Barcelona.
• Men's and women's singles and doubles events debuted that year.
• 1996: The mixed doubles category was introduced in the Olympics.

Technological Advancements and Modern Era (2000s - Present)

• Racket technology evolved from wooden frames to lightweight carbon fiber materials.
• It enabled greater speed and control.
• Electronic scoring systems replaced manual scoreboards.
• Instant replay technology (Hawk-Eye) was introduced for accuracy.
• The BWF expanded the sport's reach through tournaments such as: BWF World Championships, Thomas Cup (Men's Team), Uber Cup (Women's Team), BWF Super Series and World Tour.
• Badminton continues to grow, with rising stars from nations such as India, Thailand, and Japan.
• These nations are challenging traditional powerhouses like China, Indonesia, and Denmark.

Badminton in the Philippines: Early Introduction and Growth

• In the 1920s, British and American expatriates introduced badminton to the Philippines.
• Initially played in exclusive clubs and schools, the sport gradually gained popularity among the broader population.

Formation of Governing Bodies in the Philippines

• 1950: The Philippines became the 21st member of the International Badminton Federation (IBF), now known as the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
• 1952: The Philippine Badminton Association (PBA) was established as the national governing body for the sport.
• It organizes competitions and promotes badminton nationwide.

Milestones and Achievements in the Philippines

• 1952: Jonny Yan and Stephen Cheng became the country's first doubles champions at the Hong Kong Open.
• 1966: The Philippine men's team secured its first team championship during a triangular meet in Vietnam.
• 1981: The Philippines participated in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games for the first time.
• It marked its entry into regional competitive badminton.
• 1984: The country made its inaugural appearance in the Thomas Cup, the world men's team championship.

Notable Filipino Badminton Players

• Amparo "Weena" Lim: Recognized as the first Filipino badminton player to qualify and participate in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, and secured a bronze medal in the Jakarta SEA Games.
• Kennevic and Kennie Asuncion: Sibling duo achieved significant success in international competitions during the early 2000s.
• Kennevic earned a bronze medal in men's singles at the 2001 Bangkok Open.
• Kennie secured bronze in mixed doubles at the same event.
• They were also the first Philippine players to qualify and participate in both men's singles and mixed doubles individual events at the 13th World Championships held in Birmingham, England.

Recent Developments in the Philippines

• In December 2022, the Philippine Badminton Association announced plans to launch a national ranking system in conjunction with the return of the Philippine Badminton Open.
• This initiative aims to revitalize the sport and provide structured opportunities for players to showcase their skills.
• Badminton in the Philippines has grown significantly with a dedicated following and a history of achievements.

Badminton Equipment: Racket

• Made from lightweight materials like aluminum, steel, and carbon fiber.
• Overall length limit: 26.77 inches.
• Maximum width: 9.06 inches.
• String thickness: Around 0.03 inches.
• The overall weight of the racket cannot exceed 3.2 oz.

Badminton Equipment: Shuttlecock

• Shuttlecocks are the item volleyed across the net
• Original shuttlecocks were made from feathers
• Shuttles for backyard badminton games are often made from plastic. The shuttles used in modern competition badminton games are made from 16 real feathers

Badminton Court Dimensions

• Full width of the court: 6.1 meters (20 ft).
• Width in singles: Reduced to 5.18 meters (17 ft.).
• Full length of the court: 13.41 meters (44 ft.).
• Short service line distance from the net: 1.98 meters (6 ft. 6 inch).
• Long service line distance from the back boundary: 0.76 meters (2 ft. 6 inch).

Badminton Net Dimensions

• Nets run the entire width of the court (20' | 6.1 m) and are placed over the doubles sidelines.
• Net height at the edges: 5'1" | 1.55 m.
• Net height at the center: 5' | 1.52 m.

Badminton Net Posts

• Post height: 1.55m from the surface of the court.
• Placed on the double side lines.

Basic Badminton Skills: Grip - Forehand

• Index finger controls the racket on top of the stroke.

Basic Badminton Skills: Grip - Backhand

• Thumb controls the stroke.
• Move Index finger towards your middle finger.

Basic Badminton Skills: Footwork

• Positioning yourself at the net
• Moving to your opponent's backhand or forehand side
• Covering their mid-court and rear court.
• Traveling from the forehand side-net.

Basic Badminton Skills: Serve - High Badminton Serving

• Used when you want your opponent to go backward

Basic Badminton Skills: Serve - Low Badminton Serving

• Used when you need your opponent to move forward by hitting a shuttlecock in their frontcourt.

Basic Badminton Skills: Serve - Flick serves

• Used to convince your opponent that you are hitting the low serve.

Basic Badminton Skills: Stance/Posture - Attacking Posture

• Rotate your body to the side court in an angular form, raise both your arms
• Move your whole-body weight in the racket legs by opening your legs wide, and hit the shuttlecock.

Basic Badminton Skills: Stance/Posture - Defensive Posture

• Open your legs wide, bend your knees slightly, keep flexing your upper body, and raise both your arms

Basic Badminton Skills: Stance/Posture - Net Posture

• Keep your racket foot forward and the non-racket foot backward
• Hold your racket and place it in front of your body within a small distance on top of the weight height.

Basic Badminton Skills: Stroke - Overhand forehand stroke

• Produce the force that forms the motion of the swing.

Basic Badminton Skills: Stroke - Overhead backhand stroke

• Body needs to turn backward

Basic Badminton Skills: Stroke - Underarm forehand stroke

• You have to hit a low shot with a lot of strength to resist

Basic Badminton Skills: Stroke - Underarm backhand stroke

• Don't have to turn back like an overhead backhand stroke

Badminton Terminologies

• Shuttlecock (Shuttle/Birdie): The projectile hit back and forth during the game.
• Rally: A sequence of shots exchanged between players until a point is scored.
• Serve: The stroke used to start a rally.
• Receiver: The player who returns the serve.
• Let: A rally that is stopped and replayed due to an interruption or rule violation.
• Fault: A violation of the rules resulting in the opponent gaining a point.
• Clear: A shot hit high and deep into the opponent's court.
• Smash: A powerful downward shot aimed to finish the rally.
• Drop Shot: A soft shot that barely clears the net and lands near the opponent's front court.
• Drive: A fast, flat shot hit parallel to the ground.
• Net Shot: A delicate shot played close to the net, forcing the opponent to move forward.
• Lift: A defensive shot that sends the shuttle high and deep into the opponent's court.
• Push Shot: A gentle shot played with minimal swing, usually to place the shuttle in a difficult position.
• Deception: A technique used to trick opponents by disguising the shot direction or speed
• Front Court: The area near the net.
• Mid Court: The central area of the court.
• Back Court: The area near the back boundary line.
• Baseline: The boundary line at the back of the court.
• Service Line: The line that a serve must cross to be legal.
• Sideline: The boundary lines at the sides of the court.
• Rally Point System: The scoring system where a point is awarded on every rally, regardless of who serves.
• Game Point: The point that, if won, secures victory in a game.
• Match Point: The point that, if won, secures victory in the entire match.

Badminton Terminologies (Cont.)

• Deuce: When both players or teams reach 20-20, requiring a two-point lead to win.
• Fault: A rule violation that results in a point for the opponent.
• Short Serve: A serve that barely clears the net and lands in the opponent's front court.
• Long Serve: A serve that is hit high and deep into the opponent's backcourt (commonly used in singles).
• Flick Serve: A deceptive serve that appears short but is quickly flicked high and deep into the opponent's court.
• Drive Serve: A fast and low serve aimed at surprising the opponent.
• Backhand Grip: The grip used for executing backhand shots.
• Forehand Grip: The standard grip used for most forehand strokes.
• Follow-Through: The motion of the racket after hitting the shuttlecock.
• Footwork: The movement technique used to position oneself for shots efficiently.
• Net Kill: A sharp, downward shot played near the net to finish a rally.
• Spin Net Shot: A net shot that causes the shuttlecock to spin, making it difficult to return.
• Slice: A technique where the racket is angled to create a spinning effect on the shuttle.
• Cross-Court Shot: A shot that travels diagonally from one side of the court to the other.
• Hairpin Net Shot: A shot that barely clears the net and drops sharply on the other side.
• Fast Drop Shot: A drop shot with extra speed, making it harder to react to.
• Slow Drop Shot: A softer, more controlled drop shot designed to land close to the net.
• Block: A soft return used to counter a smash, sending the shuttle back near the net.
• Tumbling Net Shot: A net shot that causes the shuttle to flip or tumble, making it unpredictable.
• Jump Smash: A smash executed while jumping for extra power and a steeper angle.

Rules and Violations

• Carry (Sling/Throw): An illegal shot where the shuttle is caught and thrown instead of being hit cleanly.
• Double Hit: A fault where the shuttle is hit twice in succession by the same player or team.
• Foot Fault: A rule violation where a player's feet are incorrectly positioned during service.
• Overhead Stroke: A shot executed above the player's head, often used for clears and smashes.
• Body Shot: A shot aimed at the opponent's body to force a weak return.

Match Terms

• Rubber Game: The deciding third game in a best-of-three match.
• Interval: A break period at the 11-point mark in each game.
• Umpire: The official who enforces rules and scores the game.
• Line Judge: The official responsible for determining if the shuttle lands in or out.
• Service Judge: The official who monitors for service faults.