Costa sophomore Cindy Lin is nationally ranked in badminton

By: Emma Gonosey

Staff Writer

Mira Costa sophomore Cindy Lin has an intense love for the game of badminton, and is always looking for a challenge as she continues to compete across the country.

Lin tried both ping pong and tennis before finding her love for badminton. She truly found her love for the game after playing other sports in the past. Playing for over 7 years now, Lin has committed many hours every week to continue practicing and competing in tournaments throughout the US. Lin plays and practices anywhere from 10 to 20 hours during the week, both with Mira Costa, and her club team.

“I’ve been playing badminton since I was eight years old, and I originally started playing because my parents happened to know people who played badminton,” Lin said. “I actually played both ping pong and tennis before that, but I dropped both.” 

At only 15 years old, Lin has played in countless ranking badminton tournaments in hopes of winning and improving her ranking among her competitors. While Lin has competed in more than 30 competitive tournaments, she also plays for the Mira Costa badminton team. The Costa team practices at the Badminton Club in Manhattan, and often plays practice matches, and go over different strategies as to where to hit the shuttlecocks.

“Mira Costa does have a team, but I compete primarily for national ranking,” Lin said. “Technically speaking, you can become nationally ranked as long as you play in a ranking tournament.” 

While there are badminton teams outside of school, most players compete either on their own, or with a partner. Badminton players must figure out whether they prefer singles or doubles before competing in any big tournaments. Lin prefers playing by herself, though, as a singles player.

“Badminton is a singles and doubles type of sport, much like tennis, so there aren’t really positions,” Lin said. “I am primarily a singles player, though.”

Lin has competed in many large tournaments, but the highest tournament Lin has competed in was the Juniors Nationals tournament, which is an extremely competitive tournament for serious badminton players. This tournament takes place at the end of June, or beginning of July, and the location changes every year. Lin has been four times, in Los Angeles, Orlando, Milwaukee, and Frisco. She has received as high as third place during one of these tournaments.

“The Junior Nationals tournament gives the most ranking points,” Lin said. “I’ve gotten third place. Junior Nationals is decently challenging not only because the players are good, but also because [the tournament] lasts up to a week… and because you also have to be able to adjust to the courts at the venue, since they are usually unfamiliar to you. “

Badminton has been a huge part of Lin’s life, as she puts a large amount of both time and effort into improving her skills as a player. She has proven herself to be very driven, and always has had the motivation to work harder and compete in the sport.

“I play badminton really just to take a break from academics,” Lin says. “But I’m also kind of competitive, so that’s why I choose to enter tournaments and get better.”