The sound of the birdie hitting off the racket and into the air reverberates through the gym as members of the University of Arizona Badminton Club practice on Feb. 7.
The UA is home to more than 30 sports clubs – few are as big as the Badminton Club.
“On our roster there are about 250, but we have anywhere from 50 to 70 people every practice,” said club President Jasmine Meredith.
That makes the club one of the most popular sports clubs, alongside the cycling club according to the club sports website. The club meets twice a week on Fridays and Sundays in the South Gym at the Student Recreation Center, reserving two basketball courts where they set up six nets for club members to practice on.
Meredith, a senior, has been President of the club for two years.
“I really try to focus on creating an environment that’s open to everyone, regardless of skill level,” she said.
Vice President Richard Peng said that he has created a strong community.
“I feel like a lot of clubs don’t welcome beginner players. We’re especially good in that for newer players who want to just try out the sport for fun,” he said.
The club currently has three coaches, including Head Coach Rob Waters, who works with beginners. About half of new club members are trying out the sport for the first time, while the other half are more experienced players.
Waters has coached badminton since 1992, and he has played in several major badminton tournaments around the US.
“It’s a great game. I can see a lot of weaknesses in play and I just try to encourage people to learn a better way to play,” he said. “My objective is everything I know I want to teach you.”
Waters’ presence could be felt at practice as players could be seen going up to him, asking for playing advice or just giving a simple greeting.
Every year, the club puts on the Aileen Primero Memorial Tournament, honoring Aileen Primero, who was killed in Las Vegas back in 2007.
Primero was a member of the club, which partnered with Primero’s sorority, Sorority Alpha Phi Gamma, to host the tournament until around 2019.
Now the club hosts the tournament independently every fall.
“We’re in contact with her parents and currently setting up a scholarship for students that need funding towards badminton equipment,” Meredith said.
Primeros’ parents come to Tucson for the tournament, as do participants travel from Phoenix, California and Texas. It’s now run for more than a decade.
Photo from this year’s Aileen Primero tournament hosted on Nov. 16, 2024.
Over the years, people from all over the world, including Germany, Australia, China, England and Singapore, have been members of the club.
It is a tight knit group and members often hang out on campus together.
“I think in general, we just have pretty good camaraderie. Even outside of badminton, it’s kind of social and in badminton, we play, have fun and then after we’re friends,” Peng said.
In addition to students, professors also participate in the club, as do other Tucson residents.
The club will host two tournaments this semester, SMASHCATS Tournament on March 22 and Bear Down Cup Tournament on April 11 and 13.
Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.
