A conical shaped object soars through the stale air of the gym. Two pairs of eyes stare at the shuttlecock, (colloquially known as a birdie), tracking its swift movements from the backcourt to the forecourt. In the blink of any eye, a racket makes contact with the aerodynamic birdie, and it is airborne once again.
This surprisingly intense sport is none other than badminton. Though it may not be an American cultural staple like basketball or football, badminton is a popular sport on the whole. According to the Olympics.com, there are an estimated 339 million players worldwide.
Following this global trend, many schools are forming competitive badminton teams, and BHS is no exception. Varsity girls’ badminton coach Ted DeBruin has no shortage of experience in the athletics department. He has coached everything from soccer to badminton since the year 2000. One consistency across all of these programs is their competitiveness.
“We usually have about 65 to 75 girls try out every year and as an overall program, we keep only 35,” DeBruin said.
With only so many spots on the roster, sometimes athletes get cut. For Coach DeBruin, more than a rudimentary understanding of this sport is expected of his athletes. Nearly everyone managed to hit the birdie in eighth grade gym class: but who among them is truly dedicated to the game?
Good work ethic and commitment are good indicators for success on this team. But for those motivated to play at higher levels, training outside of school is recommended. Senior Anmita Avirneni sought the benefits of training. Inspired by famous badminton player PV Sindhu in seventh grade, Avirneni decided to begin lessons immediately.
“I started taking badminton lessons once a week at this private badminton club in Schaumburg called Ingret. But during COVID, it stopped because we weren’t able to go to the badminton courts,” Avirneni said. “While at home, I developed an interest in running and overall fitness. At this point, I knew I wanted to continue my interest in badminton by joining the high school team.”
Avirneni’s motivation coupled with her consistent training earned her a spot on the JV team freshman year. But more strategy was necessary to enter the varsity level.
“I think going from the mindset of passively hitting the birdie across the court to putting my mind into the game and being more aggressive with my shots that helped me enter the varsity level,” Avirneni said.
Many freshmen aspire to reach the same levels as Avirneni. For freshmen Karis Tchoi, previous tennis experience helped her find success in the badminton lessons she began this past summer.
“Tennis, and my experience playing other racket based sports, has really improved my stamina and hand-eye coordination,” Tchoi said.
Tchoi plans to attend private badminton lessons in the weeks leading up to the tryouts. But beyond demonstrating her skills, tryouts are an opportunity for her to pursue a sport she finds fun and enjoyable.
“My mom was the one who forced me to play tennis, which made me hate it. But badminton has been my choice, which has made it much more fun. That’s why I’m trying out,” Tchoi said.
Girls badminton tryouts for the spring 2025 season are from March 3 through March 7 for those interested in joining a competitive, yet enjoyable sport.
