A new sport has officially arrived at Liberty!
On hearing of the arrival of badminton, many students were pleasantly surprised. The new sport has sparked the interest of many girls at Liberty, leading to a successful season kickoff.
“I have been playing badminton for years, so I was really excited to find out I could play through school with all my friends,” freshman Sena Manjali said.
Tryouts were a hit, and senior and team captain Aditi Marehalli was impressed with the attendance.
“Around 40 girls showed up. This is a great turnout for our first year. Hopefully, our team will continue to grow in the coming years,” Marehalli said.
With badminton being a no-cut sport, players describe students involved to be accepting and encouraging to one another, though their skill levels differ.
“My favorite part of badminton is probably the environment. The community is so welcoming and everyone is so friendly,” Manjali said.
Since the sport has never been at Liberty before, players are filled with anticipation and hope for the new season.
“My biggest hope for this season is that my team and I not just win, but enjoy the sport and have fun playing,” freshman Kavinmadhi Malar said.
Excitement for the future of badminton is apparent, but it does not come without nervousness. Though freshman Kavinmadhi Malar is excited for the new season, she speaks of her worries as a young participant in badminton.
“I can definitely see a lot of energy and excitement from the team, but with that comes the uncertainty of trying something new,” Malar said.
Though players are not sure badminton will be an official sport at Liberty anytime soon, players are confident the future of the sport will be bright. Marehalli is proud of the girls and does not fail to showcase the unwavering hope she has for every girl on Liberty’s first girls’ badminton team.
“Every person on the team contributes something different, whether that’s playing skill, positivity, or teamwork. I’m excited to see each and every person grow both in terms of their skill and as a teammate,” Marehalli said.
