While badminton only becomes an official medal sport at the games of the XXVth Olympiad in Barcelona in 1992, the shuttlecock which is used for the game can trace back from more than two thousands years ago. In China, shuttlecock was played as a kicking game till these days, called "Ti Jian Zhi", as early as 5th century BC. It is believed later it spreaded to other regions in India, China and Siam (known as Thailand today).
It is difficult to tell how the game known today as badminton evolves from the past history. The earliest source known is in ancient Greece drawings depict similar game played with shuttlecock more than two thousand years ago. It is unsure how it becomes the traditional game called battledore and shuttlecock in Europe by late 16th century, or Jeu de Volant which means "flying game" in French. It was played with small hand paddle that were made of wood. The shuttlecock was often called a "bird" then because it was made of feathers with cork attached at the base. The social game was played by hitting the shuttlecock back and fro to another player, but without the net separating them as we have today.
Battledore and shuttlecock was introduced to India from what was called the poona game. Poona is currently called Pune in India, it is the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai. Back then, the game became popular among the British army officer and later poona was brought back to England. The game becomes very popular during the 1870s and 1880s as an outdoor social game for leisure pastime. The "father" of badminton is generally accepted to be the Duke of Beaufort live in Gloucestershire, now called Avon, in England. The Duke's residence called Badminton House on Badminton estate, thus became the name of the game.
Other badminton clubs begun to set up in England and then other countries. As there was a need to standardize the playing of the game, an international body called International Badminton Federation (IBF) was created in 1934. Today the IBF is known as Badminton World Federation (BWF) which is empowered by International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the world governing body for the sport of badminton. Badminton appeared first in Olympic Games 1972 in Munich, as a demonstration sport. It later became the official sport only in 1992 Olympic games in Barcelona.