Hey everyone! How are you doing? I’m doing well! In this blog, I hope to share a little about my badminton journey here at Amherst College—and why this club has become such an important part of my life.
When I first arrived at Amherst, I wasn’t sure what role badminton would play in my college experience. I packed my racket mostly out of habit, unsure whether I’d actually find time—or a community—to play with. I didn’t know whether anyone even played badminton here. But now, after just one year, I can confidently say that joining the Amherst Badminton Club has been one of the most unexpectedly joyful, grounding, and energizing parts of my time on campus.
We’re not a varsity team. We don’t have matching warm-ups or travel coaches. What we do have is a close-knit, welcoming group of students who show up week after week to play, improve, and connect. Practices at Alumni Gym are casual, low-stress, and open to everyone—whether you’re a seasoned tournament player or just want to try holding a racket for the first time.
Some of my favorite moments at Amherst so far have been on that court. From casual rallies and fast-paced doubles to full-on scrimmages, I’ve found not just competition, but camaraderie. One of the highlights was organizing matches with nearby schools like UMass Amherst, Smith College, and Williams. It’s amazing to watch the gym transform into a tournament venue, with cheers echoing, birdies flying, and players huddling over post-match snacks. Whether I was helping coordinate logistics or figuring out how to tape down the boundary lines (trust me—it’s harder than it looks), I felt part of something larger than myself.
Badminton has also allowed me to connect beyond Amherst. Through the Five College Consortium, we’ve made friends from Umass and Smith, grabbed boba after matches, gone on grocery runs together, and just hung out like any other group of friends. There’s something uniquely special about bonding over a shared sport—and then sharing a pizza after a tough match.
Looking ahead, I’m super excited to share that I’m working with the UMass Amherst badminton team to co-host a much larger tournament right here at Amherst next year! Our goal is to bring together players from across the Five Colleges—and maybe beyond—to celebrate the sport, build connections, and make memories. It’ll be competitive, yes, but also inclusive, fun, and open to everyone.
So whether you’re already a player or just badminton-curious, come join us! We’d love to have you on the court—or at the next bubble tea run 😉 And if you’re a prospective student reading this, wondering whether there’s room for your interests here at Amherst: there absolutely is.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions—badminton-related or not! You can always reach me at ttanaka28@amherst.edu.
See you on the court 🏸
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