The nets are set up, and the birdies begin to fly across the gym. Especially for the coed varsity badminton team, every practice this week carries a little more weight than usual. With League Finals coming up on April 28 – May 1, the team is extra motivated and practicing harder in order to be prepared on Tuesday. The junior varsity team does not participate in the League Finals. This is the final stretch of the season, and each player is gearing up for the upcoming matches.
For varsity player Lasya Vajrala (10), the day starts at 7 a.m. Instead of rushing out the door or skipping breakfast, Vajrala wakes up with enough time to sit down for a proper meal to fuel her day. The routine is simple but consistent.
“I usually eat eggs and toast before the days I play and prioritize meals with protein,” Vajrala said.
Her focus on nutrition does not only take place during breakfast. Throughout the week leading up to finals, Vajrala is deliberate about what she eats, leaning into protein-rich meals to keep her energy steady through long practices. During school, Vajrala stays on track and tries to limit the amount of homework she has to do in the afternoon.
“I always try to get my homework done before I play and finish it the day it gets assigned,” Vajrala said. “I don’t want anything hanging over me when I’m supposed to be focused on playing.”
This mindset is what makes a real difference in handling the pressure that comes with the League Finals. This is her biggest priority heading into the final competition. Vajrala is focused on improving her mental state to help her while playing.
“I am working on strengthening my mental game,” Vajrala said. “I think getting better at the physical side is easier, but when it comes to the mental part, it takes more time to become better.”
By the time the afternoon practice rolls around, the gym is full, and all the players are locked in. They arrive a few minutes early and spend the first ten minutes in a circle doing dynamic stretches. After stretching, the coach starts drills and has them run. Then, they work on their footwork and practice with the coach. The players break off into doubles or singles and play matches against each other while keeping score to practice for games.
Varsity captain Celestine Chinnappan (12), a four year member of the badminton team, sets the standard for what the focus looks like. She leads not just through skill, but in practice she carries herself effectively. Her preparation begins long before she picks up a racket. Chinnappan sticks to a pre-game routine that helps her stay organized.
“As soon as I wake up, my routine starts,” Chinnappan said. “I stretch, tie my hair back and make sure I eat properly to get [myself] through the day. I also prepare my bag with lotion, extra hair ties and my uniform.”
Before the first point is played, there is one more thing Chinnappan seeks out.
“I always listen to music before playing,” Chinnappan said. “I like upbeat and rap music; it keeps me energized and gets me hyped up to play.”
Her time on varsity has also taught her how to handle a bad game without letting it carry over into the next one. Rather than replaying every mistake or falling into self-criticism, she moves on without letting her define her performance.
“When I mess up, I tell myself it is okay and that I can learn from it,” Chinnappan said. “I tell myself that I will win the next point if I focus on my techniques.”
She emphasizes how losing a point is not a crisis, but something to learn from and move past. This perspective, built over her years on the team, is the kind of leadership the team needs heading into the biggest matches of the season, according to Vajrala.
Guiding the team from the sideline is first-year head coach Hien Nguyen, who spent the season building a team-oriented and positive culture. He believes the players need to mentally and physically prepare. His approach to finals week is simple: creating a team that walks in feeling ready.
“If you put more hours into practicing, you become more prepared and feel more confident,” Nguyen said.
Coach Nguyen prioritizes student improvement and enjoyment over winning, aiming to maximize fun while developing skills.
“If I see my students improve and have fun, then I feel very satisfied as a coach,” Nguyen said. “That is my number one goal. Win or lose, it matters if they try their best and put time and effort into improving themselves.”
