Badminton’s origins have roots in the game of Ti Jian Zi, played in ancient China as early as 500 years before the birth of Christ. The game consisted of kicking the shuttlecock (birdie) without the use of racquets.

Around the time of the birth of Christ, a game with a battledore and shuttlecock was played in China, Japan, and Greece. It is likely that this game was a direct descendent of Ti Jian Zi. The game consisted of hitting the shuttlecock back and forth with a battledore. The battledore was used similarly as today’s racquets are used.

By the mid 1800’s, a game called ‘Poona’ that had resemblance to today’s badminton became popular in India. During the 1870’s, English army officers stationed in India brought the game home to the United Kingdom.

Popularity of Poona grew in England where it was known as 'Battledore and Shuttlecock'. It was not long until the Duke of Beaufort started the first club at his country estate in 1873. The name of the country club was called the 'Badminton House'. The name badminton was derived from the name of the country estate. This first club at the 'Badminton House' was where most of the modern rules were conceived.

500 BC: The Chinese game 'Ti Jian Zi' was popular amongst the population.
0 BC: A game played with a battledore and shuttlecock was popular in China, Japan, and Greece.
1860s: In India, a game called Poona became popular.
1870s: The game of Poona was imported into England via its military from India.
1873: Badminton gets it name from a country estate where it was played. Modern rules are established.
1878: The 'Badminton Club of New York' was formed in the United States.
1893: The first national badminton championship was held in England.
1899: The first international championship took place at the All England Open.
1936: The International Badminton Federation was formed.
1936: The American Badminton Association was formed.
1937: The first American national championship was held in the USA on April 1.
1978: The American Badminton Association changed its name to the United States Badminton Association.
1992: The sport of badminton became an Olympic event.

Badminton is played with the use of a racquet and a feathered shuttle, sometimes called a birdie. The players takes turns hitting the shuttle back and forth over a net while using a racquet.

The size of the court varies but nominally the size is 44’ (13.4 meters) by 20’ (6.1 m) for doubles or 17’ (5.18 meters) for singles. The object of the game is to force an error upon the opponent or team so that they can not return the shuttle back over the net.