Badminton has ancient roots, with games resembling its basic principles played in ancient civilizations such as Greece, China, and India.
The modern version of badminton took shape in the mid-19th century in the British garrison town of Poona (now Pune), India. British army officers stationed there played a game called "Poona," similar to badminton.
British army officials who had learned the game in India introduced badminton to England in the 1870s. The game gained popularity as a garden or lawn sport among the elite.
The Bath Badminton Club, established in 1877, played a pivotal role in standardising the rules of badminton. The club's rules became the basis for the modern game.
Originally known as "Poona," the sport's name changed to "badminton" when the Duke of Beaufort hosted a party at his Badminton House in Gloucestershire, where the game gained popularity.
Badminton started to spread internationally in the early 20th century. The first badminton association, the Badminton Association of England, was founded in 1893.
Badminton made its Olympic debut as a demonstration sport in 1972 and later became a full-fledged Olympic sport at the Barcelona Games in 1992.
In 1934, the International Badminton Federation (now Badminton World Federation - BWF) was formed, overseeing the global development of the sport and organising international competitions.
The original scoring system, known as the "3x15" system, was used until 2006 when it was replaced by the current "21 points, best of three games" system.
Over the years, badminton equipment, including rackets and shuttlecocks, has evolved for better performance. The game is played on various surfaces, including grass, clay, and synthetic courts.