Hitting the Shuttlecock: Developing Tactics and Building Her Stamina

"I built my stamina because I believe that whenever I feel like I can’t keep going, I just have to grit my teeth and continue doing it." - Wendy Wang

Inspired by Annie's story about Ashley's optimism, I immediately thought of the co-founder of Voices of Female Athletes, also one of my best friends - Wendy. Just like how Ashley has influenced Annie with her optimism, Wendy also does so with me for many years. Originally, I didn’t want to be too personal but the countless beautiful moments Wendy and I have shared compelled me to write this interview - more than Wendy sharing her athletic experiences, but also to celebrate our friendship.

A few years ago, when we were still in the same school, she used to beat me on badminton every time. When I lost, she always comforted me with her cute words, "Don’t worry, practice makes perfect," even though I never won for once. From our gradual conversation, I came to realize that the over 7 years of badminton training brought her much optimism and perseverance that helped her to cope with mounting academic pressures over time.

Wendy Started Badminton at a Young Age

Coming from a traditional Chinese family, Wendy’s father, like any other Asian parent, decided that Wendy should try badminton when she was little. And as she gradually practiced, she began to develop her feelings for the sport.

“Badminton brings me a unique feeling of speed and passion which no other sport can bring. I really enjoy that feeling of swinging the racket. In the process of playing badminton, I learned how to hold the racket, hit a shuttlecock, move on the court, and how to score. By learning these basic techniques, I can play a variety of tricks and find a tactic that suits me the most.”

It’s just like life, knowing what you want to do and how you want it, it can make something that seems difficult very simple through long term practices and builds up my resilience.

When developing these tactics, she faced various challenges in this process. New tactics and situations can be overwhelming sometimes.

“One of the biggest challenges was the defending smash. At first, I was very scared of it - what if the shuttlecock hit me? I was afraid of the little flying thing that was coming to me, seemingly striking me. Later, I stopped dodging when there was a smash, and used the racket to bounce the shuttlecock back to the opposite court. Overcoming this challenge took me a lot of time, and I had to constantly practice and keep encouraging myself.”

Fortunately, having a pair of supportive parents is indeed a gift along the path of pursuing badminton. Whenever Wendy felt disappointed or discouraged, her parents encouraged her for the best. Whenever she felt tired and wanted to give up, her parents motivated her to keep going.

“They always remind me how much hard work I have put into this sport over the years. And that the difficulties I am having now would only make myself better. I can’t give up halfway!"

I think the perseverance part of my personality is also forged from years of training. Badminton requires endurance because the longer the game goes on, the more tired you get. I built my stamina because I believe that whenever I feel like I can’t keep going, I just have to grit my teeth and continue doing it.

As she adapted to the tactics and honed in her techniques, Wendy has indicated that she has found herself becoming a stronger person, both physically and mentally.

I believe girls can do hard smashes just as well as guys, and we can do it even better. I'd say just do it if you want to, and you might fall in love with it! Never think it's too late to start.

As one of my best friends, I would say that Wendy has this natural charm of not giving up easily, and the optimistic part of her personality also has to do with badminton. The various qualities and strengths she has acquired through years of playing badminton are something crucial to Wendy's well-being. She always supports me and takes care of me when I feel down. That is the most heartwarming part of our friendship and indeed a gift I will cherish for a lifetime. I am grateful of Wendy's existence in my life, and I wish for her to continue to be the one who makes herself and others the happiest!