The University of Minnesota’s Happy Badminton Club gives students a space to play badminton and engage with students who have similar interests.
The club provides an atmosphere for players of all skill levels to have fun playing the game and also improve their technique.
President Runyu Zhu, a third-year student, said he created the club in spring 2023 because there was no community for badminton players on campus.
“I found there were many people who share a similar interest in badminton, but there was no club for them to join and play with each other on campus,” Zhu said. “There was no community, and I wanted to create one.”
Zhu said the club usually meets for two hours each Saturday where students can practice their badminton skills and play games with each other.
According to Zhu, the club usually holds one formal competition a year between club members, which is optional and held on campus in the spring semester.
Zilun Xiang, a graduate student and club member, said there will be a tournament in Chicago in March where club members will compete against different universities in the Midwest.
“We want to create an atmosphere for professional players to enjoy, and we also have normal practice and training for those who want to improve their skills,” Zhu said.
Jackie Wang, a third-year student and the club’s treasurer, said the club offers training to those who are just starting to learn the sport. The club answers questions about the sport and how it is played, with beginners usually in a group together.
Zhu said the club has two coaches. Zhu is the one coach who focuses on the beginner level, while the other coach focuses on the advanced level, which is another professional player in the club. For beginners, the club also provides information about how to heal from injuries.
Xiang added the club has allowed him to relax from the demands of graduate school.
According to Zhu, the more members play games with each other, the closer they become.
“The first time they play together, they know each other, but the second time they play together, they become friends,” Zhu said. “That is what I wanted when creating this club, and that is what I expected.”
Wang said he appreciates the club has given him a space to play badminton with his friends and meet new people.
“It has been a great experience,” Wang said.
Zhu said club members are passionate about finding people with a similar interest in badminton and want to share the happiness of the sport with others.
“The reason why I created this club is because I wanted to play badminton with my friends,” Zhu said. “We are happy playing badminton, and we want to share the happiness with other students.”
