The sounds of sneakers squeaking and birdies snapping against rackets fill the gym as cheers  explode from the sidelines. In the middle of it all, sophomore Annie Meng wipes the beads of sweat from her forehead, getting ready for her next serve. 

Meng, a Team USA badminton player with seven years of experience, first started playing the sport with her family.

“I would play in my backyard when I was little,” Meng said. “One day my mom took me to the gym she played at and signed me up for training. He told me she signed me up because I had to learn to keep going after I would make a mistake.”

What began as a lesson in perseverance has turned into a lot more for Meng.

“One thing that keeps me motivated is the fact that I have to be better than I was before,” Meng said. “I continue to set high standards for myself.”

Although badminton matches are only 45 minutes, Meng said she trains intensively to compete at such a high level.

“A typical training session includes five main parts,” Meng said. “The first part is to warm up, just to get blood flowing. The second is drills, including court patterns and shots, and gets everyone tired. The third part is physical. Everyone hates it because it’s just an hour of straight conditioning, but one of my favorite workouts is jump rope because I like to challenge myself to break my triples record. The fourth is skill, which includes technique and doesn’t require much movement but more focus. The last is weights, which my coach emphasizes the most.”

But Meng said balancing such a rigorous training schedule with school requires sacrifices.

“It is extremely hard to balance badminton with school and extracurriculars,” Meng said. “I find myself sacrificing sleep and hanging out with friends more often, but I hope to fix this with better time management.”

Meng said her most memorable match came from unlikely circumstances.

“Many people think I would say the time when I beat the first seed or when I got first in all three events , but those memories aren’t too special for me,” Meng said. “My most memorable match was from the first open regional tournament I played. I got absolutely destroyed 3-5. It was the first competitive match I played, and it ended pretty quickly.”

These memories are important because she said they motivate her to progress faster.

“Since I (am) considered to have started playing badminton late, I was behind everyone else in my age group,” Meng said. “But as time went on and I started improving faster, I started to catch up and eventually got ahead.”

While playing competitive badminton has a multitude of challenges, Meng said her biggest struggle is handling pressure.

“Handling pressure is a big challenge,” Meng said. “I always get really nervous before my game, and it feels terrible. My hands get hot and sweaty. I can’t stop pacing around, and I can’t control my thoughts.”

Over time, Meng said she has found ways to gain more control over her emotions during intense competitions. 

“One thing I like to do is always watch my opponents to get a general idea of what I will be expecting,” Meng said. “I found out I tend to do worse when I don’t have enough time to adapt , so knowing what I will be facing helps a lot. Another thing I like to do is talk to my friends. They always have good points to tell me and also cheer for me when I play.”

Sophomore Camillia Wang — who competes in badminton with Meng — said she supports everyone, especially through tough times.

“I had just lost my doubles finals match, and felt extremely disappointed in myself,” Wang said. “Annie was there to reassure and comfort me. She supported me when I felt down and gave me the confidence I needed to not blame everything on myself.” 

Sophomore Danny Hao, Meng’s teammate, agrees.

“Annie is not only a talented athlete with a strong heart but is also a genuine, kind person,” Hao said. “The more I got to know her, the more I realized how warm she truly is. She’s a joy to be friends with.”

Additionally, Hao recognizes Meng’s determination.

“On the badminton court, Annie shows her personality through her calmness and determination. Even after losing the first set, she never panics or shows frustration,” Hao said. “She’s a natural champion.”