Badminton · Interesting Facts
Chapter 1: History & Origins
10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 29 October 2026 · markdown
Badminton grew out of battledore and shuttlecock, a game with no net in which players simply kept the shuttle in the air. Paintings from 1632 to William Blake's time show girls, princes and a queen playing it, among them Princess Louise-Marie holding a battledore while her brother the Dauphin flies a kite. The word shuttlecock is dated by dictionaries to the early or mid-1500s, and battledore goes back to the flat wooden bat that washers used to beat wet clothes.
The organised sport begins on 13 September 1893, when nine clubs met at Dunbar, Waverley Grove, Southsea, and founded the Badminton Association, with most early clubs in the south of England. Courts at first narrowed at the net, a shape clubs called the waisted court, before the rectangle of 44 by 20 feet that is still used today. The All England Championships grew from a one-day doubles event in Guildford's Drill Hall into a championship played in a drill hall in Buckingham Gate, Westminster, then at Wembley for 37 years and finally in Birmingham. Its 100th edition came after the centenary, because the wars cost the event several years.
The facts below cover the old paintings, the association's first years, the hourglass court, the early All England and its homes, champions who also won Wimbledon, the association's magazine, the first overseas champions, the game's arrival in North America and the origins of its words.
1.11Battledore in Paintings
Girls, princes and a queen with battledore and shuttlecock, from 1632 to William Blake.
Test 1Battledore in paintingsTake a test
It was shown at the Paris Salon of 1737 beside his 'House of Cards'.
Source: Collection records of the Galleria degli Uffizi, Statens Museum for Kunst, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale Center for British Art, Walters Art Museum, Pushkin Museum and Staatliches Museum Schwerin · recall
Seven coloured feathers are set in a cork base, and the racket is strung with gut.
Source: Collection records of the Galleria degli Uffizi, Statens Museum for Kunst, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale Center for British Art, Walters Art Museum, Pushkin Museum and Staatliches Museum Schwerin · recall
She became queen that same year, at the age of six.
Source: Collection records of the Galleria degli Uffizi, Statens Museum for Kunst, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale Center for British Art, Walters Art Museum, Pushkin Museum and Staatliches Museum Schwerin · recall
The poem never mentions the game; the girl at the left plays it.
Source: Collection records of the Galleria degli Uffizi, Statens Museum for Kunst, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale Center for British Art, Walters Art Museum, Pushkin Museum and Staatliches Museum Schwerin · recall
Princess Louise-Marie holds the battledore; her brother the Dauphin flies a kite.
Source: Collection records of the Galleria degli Uffizi, Statens Museum for Kunst, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale Center for British Art, Walters Art Museum, Pushkin Museum and Staatliches Museum Schwerin · recall
The children play battledore, keeping the shuttle up, with no net between them.
Source: Collection records of the Galleria degli Uffizi, Statens Museum for Kunst, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale Center for British Art, Walters Art Museum, Pushkin Museum and Staatliches Museum Schwerin · recall
The portrait of Kenneth Dixon is in the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Source: Collection records of the Galleria degli Uffizi, Statens Museum for Kunst, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale Center for British Art, Walters Art Museum, Pushkin Museum and Staatliches Museum Schwerin · recall
1632, 1737, 1761-62, 1794.
Source: Collection records of the Galleria degli Uffizi, Statens Museum for Kunst, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale Center for British Art, Walters Art Museum, Pushkin Museum and Staatliches Museum Schwerin · recall
Matthieu 1764, Williams about 1770-75, Barney 1788.
Source: Collection records of the Galleria degli Uffizi, Statens Museum for Kunst, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale Center for British Art, Walters Art Museum, Pushkin Museum and Staatliches Museum Schwerin · recall
It entered the Uffizi collections in 1951.
Source: Collection records of the Galleria degli Uffizi, Statens Museum for Kunst, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale Center for British Art, Walters Art Museum, Pushkin Museum and Staatliches Museum Schwerin · applied
1.12The Association's First Years
How nine clubs in Southsea founded the Badminton Association, and what it did next.
Test 1The Badminton Association's first yearsTake a test
The meeting was at Dunbar, Waverley Grove, Southsea, on 13 September 1893.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
Most of the early clubs were in the south of England.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
He was Hon. Secretary of the Southsea club and President from 1893 to 1898.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
England won 5-2.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
The annual series with Scotland followed from 1921-22.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
By 1930 there were 30 counties in seven groups.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
The event had grown fast in under ten years.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
1893, 1899, 1911, 1928.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
Renamed in 1934, when the IBF took over world governance, and again in 2005.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
Major Dolby, its Hon. Secretary, called the meeting for 2 p.m.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · applied
1.13The Hourglass Court
Courts that narrowed at the net, iron rods above the posts and games for eight.
Test 1The hourglass court and early lawsTake a test
Clubs called it the waisted court.
Source: Badminton Association meeting of 12 April 1901, as recorded by the Badminton Museum and the Japan University of Economics history paper; worldbadminton.com, 'History of the Laws of Badminton' · recall
Several clubs had asked for it a year earlier and lost.
Source: Badminton Association meeting of 12 April 1901, as recorded by the Badminton Museum and the Japan University of Economics history paper; worldbadminton.com, 'History of the Laws of Badminton' · recall
He came from the Southsea Badminton Club.
Source: Badminton Association meeting of 12 April 1901, as recorded by the Badminton Museum and the Japan University of Economics history paper; worldbadminton.com, 'History of the Laws of Badminton' · recall
Judging the rods' line was hard for umpires and players alike.
Source: Badminton Association meeting of 12 April 1901, as recorded by the Badminton Museum and the Japan University of Economics history paper; worldbadminton.com, 'History of the Laws of Badminton' · recall
Until then, three or four players a side was allowed.
Source: Badminton Association meeting of 12 April 1901, as recorded by the Badminton Museum and the Japan University of Economics history paper; worldbadminton.com, 'History of the Laws of Badminton' · recall
Other games stayed at 15.
Source: Badminton Association meeting of 12 April 1901, as recorded by the Badminton Museum and the Japan University of Economics history paper; worldbadminton.com, 'History of the Laws of Badminton' · recall
The rules came from one of the oldest clubs.
Source: Badminton Association meeting of 12 April 1901, as recorded by the Badminton Museum and the Japan University of Economics history paper; worldbadminton.com, 'History of the Laws of Badminton' · recall
1901, 1907, 1950, 1963.
Source: Badminton Association meeting of 12 April 1901, as recorded by the Badminton Museum and the Japan University of Economics history paper; worldbadminton.com, 'History of the Laws of Badminton' · recall
1962, 1992, 1998.
Source: Badminton Association meeting of 12 April 1901, as recorded by the Badminton Museum and the Japan University of Economics history paper; worldbadminton.com, 'History of the Laws of Badminton' · recall
The rectangle of 44 by 20 feet is still the court today.
Source: Badminton Association meeting of 12 April 1901, as recorded by the Badminton Museum and the Japan University of Economics history paper; worldbadminton.com, 'History of the Laws of Badminton' · applied
1.14The Early All England
Guildford's open tournament, a drill hall in Westminster, two guineas and a final stopped by the dark.
Test 1The early All England ChampionshipsTake a test
It was a one-day doubles event in Guildford's Drill Hall.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
It stood in Buckingham Gate, Westminster.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
Thirteen women's pairs, fourteen men's pairs and 25 mixed pairs.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
It was a one-day event on four courts.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
It finished just after 7.30 in the evening.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
Sidney Howard Smith won the first men's singles the same year.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
It was finished four days later.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
1898, 1899, 1900, 1901.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
1902, 1910, 1922 (Frank Devlin), 1932.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
Runners-up got one guinea; winners also held a challenge trophy.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · applied
1.15The All England's Homes
From a drill hall to Crystal Palace, Wembley and Birmingham.
Test 1The All England's homesTake a test
It was not central enough, so the event moved on.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
In 1903 they moved to the London Rifle Brigade's hall near Moorgate.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
It held the event for thirty years.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
It hosted the first post-war championships in 1947 instead.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
They stayed 37 years.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
Wembley followed it in 1957.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
COVID-19 kept spectators away.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
1899, 1902, 1910, 1947, 1957.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
1999, 2010 and 2024: the wars cost the event several years, so the 100th came after the centenary.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
After 37 years at Wembley the event moved to Birmingham.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · applied
1.16Champions in Two Sports
All England champions who also won Wimbledon.
Test 1Champions in two sportsTake a test
She won it three years running, 1920-22, and again in 1924.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' and 'The First Ever All-England Badminton Men's Singles Champion'; Wimbledon champions archive (AELTC); Olympedia · recall
Singles, doubles with her sister, and mixed with Frank Devlin.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' and 'The First Ever All-England Badminton Men's Singles Champion'; Wimbledon champions archive (AELTC); Olympedia · recall
They are the only married couple to win Wimbledon mixed doubles.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' and 'The First Ever All-England Badminton Men's Singles Champion'; Wimbledon champions archive (AELTC); Olympedia · recall
The trip was about 600 miles.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' and 'The First Ever All-England Badminton Men's Singles Champion'; Wimbledon champions archive (AELTC); Olympedia · recall
She won it in 1912 as Ethel Larcombe.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' and 'The First Ever All-England Badminton Men's Singles Champion'; Wimbledon champions archive (AELTC); Olympedia · recall
They won it in 1902 and 1906.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' and 'The First Ever All-England Badminton Men's Singles Champion'; Wimbledon champions archive (AELTC); Olympedia · recall
One gold, two silver and two bronze.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' and 'The First Ever All-England Badminton Men's Singles Champion'; Wimbledon champions archive (AELTC); Olympedia · recall
1920, 1924, 1926.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' and 'The First Ever All-England Badminton Men's Singles Champion'; Wimbledon champions archive (AELTC); Olympedia · recall
1900, 1902, 1912.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' and 'The First Ever All-England Badminton Men's Singles Champion'; Wimbledon champions archive (AELTC); Olympedia · recall
She beat Lili de Alvarez in the 1926 final.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' and 'The First Ever All-England Badminton Men's Singles Champion'; Wimbledon champions archive (AELTC); Olympedia · applied
1.17The Gazette and the Wars
The association's magazine from 1907 to 2013, and the years the wars took.
Test 1The Gazette and the warsTake a test
Before it, the Association used pages in 'Lawn Tennis and Badminton'.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
It came back in October 1921.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
The All England returned the next spring, in 1947.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
It started in 1907.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
Kitty McKane won the women's singles that year.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
It was renamed 'Badminton' in 1991.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
It had been renamed Courtside in 2009.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
1907, 1982, 1991, 2009.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
October 1921, 1940, 1947.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · recall
The IBF was not founded until 1934.
Source: Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk) · applied
1.18Overseas Players Arrive
The first champions from Ireland, Denmark, Canada, the United States and China.
Test 1Overseas players arriveTake a test
He won the men's doubles with Guy Sautter.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
A large Danish group had come in 1938.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
Ruth Dalsgaard and Tonny Olsen won the women's doubles.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
She led Canadian women's badminton from 1936 to 1940.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
She took singles, doubles and mixed.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
China won its first men's doubles in 1987.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
Clinton and Patsy Stevens won the mixed doubles that year.
Source: USA Badminton, 'USA Badminton History' (usabadminton.org); The Canadian Encyclopedia, 'Badminton'; Sports Illustrated Vault, cover of 7 March 1955 · recall
1922, 1939, 1949, 1987.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
1982, 1987 (Li Yongbo and Tian Bingyi), 1988 (Wang Pengren and Shi Fangjing).
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · recall
She beat Li Lingwei 11-4, 11-6 in the final.
Source: Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org) · applied
1.19Badminton Reaches North America
A New York society club, Montreal, Hollywood stars and a world professional champion.
Test 1Badminton reaches North AmericaTake a test
It was a weekend meeting place for the city's society leaders.
Source: USA Badminton, 'USA Badminton History' (usabadminton.org); The Canadian Encyclopedia, 'Badminton'; Sports Illustrated Vault, cover of 7 March 1955 · recall
There is evidence of play in Ottawa by 1900.
Source: USA Badminton, 'USA Badminton History' (usabadminton.org); The Canadian Encyclopedia, 'Badminton'; Sports Illustrated Vault, cover of 7 March 1955 · recall
Montréal also held the first Canadian Championships in 1922.
Source: USA Badminton, 'USA Badminton History' (usabadminton.org); The Canadian Encyclopedia, 'Badminton'; Sports Illustrated Vault, cover of 7 March 1955 · recall
Schools, YMCAs and hundreds of new clubs taught the game too.
Source: USA Badminton, 'USA Badminton History' (usabadminton.org); The Canadian Encyclopedia, 'Badminton'; Sports Illustrated Vault, cover of 7 March 1955 · recall
Bette Davis, Boris Karloff, Ginger Rogers and Douglas Fairbanks are also named.
Source: USA Badminton, 'USA Badminton History' (usabadminton.org); The Canadian Encyclopedia, 'Badminton'; Sports Illustrated Vault, cover of 7 March 1955 · recall
It held its first national championships in 1937.
Source: USA Badminton, 'USA Badminton History' (usabadminton.org); The Canadian Encyclopedia, 'Badminton'; Sports Illustrated Vault, cover of 7 March 1955 · recall
He was the top American player of the time.
Source: USA Badminton, 'USA Badminton History' (usabadminton.org); The Canadian Encyclopedia, 'Badminton'; Sports Illustrated Vault, cover of 7 March 1955 · recall
1878, 1907, 1921, 1936.
Source: USA Badminton, 'USA Badminton History' (usabadminton.org); The Canadian Encyclopedia, 'Badminton'; Sports Illustrated Vault, cover of 7 March 1955 · recall
1936, renamed in 1978 and again in 1996.
Source: USA Badminton, 'USA Badminton History' (usabadminton.org); The Canadian Encyclopedia, 'Badminton'; Sports Illustrated Vault, cover of 7 March 1955 · recall
A British tour in 1925 had already led to new halls across Canada.
Source: USA Badminton, 'USA Badminton History' (usabadminton.org); The Canadian Encyclopedia, 'Badminton'; Sports Illustrated Vault, cover of 7 March 1955 · applied
1.20Where Badminton Words Come From
Shuttlecock, battledore, racket and birdie: where the words began.
Test 1Where badminton words come fromTake a test
Dictionaries date it to the early or mid-1500s.
Source: Merriam-Webster and Collins (Dictionary.com) entries for battledore, shuttlecock, shuttle, racket and birdie; Online Etymology Dictionary · recall
It shuttles back and forth; the second part is of uncertain origin.
Source: Merriam-Webster and Collins (Dictionary.com) entries for battledore, shuttlecock, shuttle, racket and birdie; Online Etymology Dictionary · recall
Old English scytel was something shot or thrown.
Source: Merriam-Webster and Collins (Dictionary.com) entries for battledore, shuttlecock, shuttle, racket and birdie; Online Etymology Dictionary · recall
Washers beat wet clothes with a flat wooden bat.
Source: Merriam-Webster and Collins (Dictionary.com) entries for battledore, shuttlecock, shuttle, racket and birdie; Online Etymology Dictionary · recall
Its 'batedor' comes from a verb meaning to beat.
Source: Merriam-Webster and Collins (Dictionary.com) entries for battledore, shuttlecock, shuttle, racket and birdie; Online Etymology Dictionary · recall
Early ball games were played with the open hand.
Source: Merriam-Webster and Collins (Dictionary.com) entries for battledore, shuttlecock, shuttle, racket and birdie; Online Etymology Dictionary · recall
It is also often shortened to 'shuttle' or 'bird'.
Source: Merriam-Webster and Collins (Dictionary.com) entries for battledore, shuttlecock, shuttle, racket and birdie; Online Etymology Dictionary · recall
Late Middle English, the 1500s, then the mid-1800s.
Source: Merriam-Webster and Collins (Dictionary.com) entries for battledore, shuttlecock, shuttle, racket and birdie; Online Etymology Dictionary · recall
Arabic raha, Italian racchetta, French raquette, English racket.
Source: Merriam-Webster and Collins (Dictionary.com) entries for battledore, shuttlecock, shuttle, racket and birdie; Online Etymology Dictionary · recall
The game was battledore and shuttlecock: no net, just keeping it up.
Source: Merriam-Webster and Collins (Dictionary.com) entries for battledore, shuttlecock, shuttle, racket and birdie; Online Etymology Dictionary · applied
Questions people ask
- Where did badminton come from?
- It grew from battledore and shuttlecock, an older game with no net in which players kept the shuttle up between them. Paintings from 1632 onwards show children and royalty playing it.
- When was the Badminton Association founded?
- Nine clubs founded it at a meeting at Dunbar, Waverley Grove, Southsea, on 13 September 1893. Most of the early clubs were in the south of England.
- What was the hourglass badminton court?
- Early courts narrowed at the net, and clubs called this the waisted court. It gave way to the rectangle of 44 by 20 feet that is still the court today.
- Where has the All England Championships been held?
- It started in a drill hall in Buckingham Gate, Westminster, later spent 37 years at Wembley and then moved to Birmingham.
- Did any badminton champions also win Wimbledon?
- Yes. Some All England champions also won at Wimbledon, among them Kitty Godfree (McKane) and her husband Leslie Godfree, the only married couple to win the Wimbledon mixed doubles.
- Where does the word shuttlecock come from?
- Dictionaries date it to the early or mid-1500s. The first part describes how it shuttles back and forth, while the origin of the second part is uncertain.
- Why is the bat called a battledore?
- Washers once beat wet clothes with a flat wooden bat, and the word's root 'batedor' comes from a verb meaning to beat.
Sources
Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: the BWF and its continental confederations, national federations, the All England Club history, the Olympic Channel and Olympedia, Guinness World Records, museums, makers' own histories and named reputable media.
- Badminton Museum, '1899 - the first All England Badminton Championships' and 'The History of the All-England Badminton Championships' (badmintonmuseum.org)30
- Badminton Museum, 'Badminton England - The History of The Association' (badmintonmuseum.co.uk)19
- USA Badminton, 'USA Badminton History' (usabadminton.org); The Canadian Encyclopedia, 'Badminton'; Sports Illustrated Vault, cover of 7 March 195511
- Collection records of the Galleria degli Uffizi, Statens Museum for Kunst, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale Center for British Art, Walters Art Museum, Pushkin Museum and Staatliches Museum Schwerin10
- Badminton Association meeting of 12 April 1901, as recorded by the Badminton Museum and the Japan University of Economics history paper; worldbadminton.com, 'History of the Laws of Badminton'10
- Badminton Museum, 'Kitty Godfree' and 'The First Ever All-England Badminton Men's Singles Champion'; Wimbledon champions archive (AELTC); Olympedia10
- Merriam-Webster and Collins (Dictionary.com) entries for battledore, shuttlecock, shuttle, racket and birdie; Online Etymology Dictionary10