Composed of both staff, graduate, and undergraduate students alike, the New Mexico State University Badminton Club cultivates a unique sense of campus community through a shared love of the sport.
Meeting twice a week in the evenings, the energy builds as soon as the first member steps onto the court. Practices differ, consisting of meeting up and playing against different partners to mix skillsets and help players of all levels feel welcomed.
“I have seen many players here who were like beginners, and then we, the experienced players, guide them personally as well,” former club President Akshit Mehta said. “[We] all get mixed up and then play all together. It’s not like a few people are playing together and then the rest of them are struggling to improve.”
Providing the opportunity to come and go between practices and mingle between partners, inclusivity of all schedules and practice availability is a fundamental piece of what keeps members involved.
“I am faculty, most of them are students, but I don’t mind,” NMSU Associate Research Scientist Abdur Rashid said. “[The] game is my favorite, so I play here, no matter [who is] playing with me.”
Competition-wise, the club has not attended any tournaments. Events including women’s singles and women’s doubles, paired with mixed doubles, require at least four female participants, rendering them unable to compete. So, scrimmaging among themselves gives them the replacement experience of a tournament, which many players find contentment in.
“We just are regular players. We just love playing badminton,” President Phuong Nguyen said. “We just play with each other. That’s all, no tournaments.”
Similar to many other sporting clubs on campus, NMSU Badminton struggles with funding for essential equipment, and has plans to approach the university for assistance. Stringing machines, a high priority on the team’s wish list, are needed to repair badminton racquets with broken strings, and can cost anywhere from $500-$1,200.
“There are no shops for restringing badminton racquets in Las Cruces,” Nguyen said. “So, I would love to have a stringing machine [for] the club, so members can restring their racquet themselves.”
As badminton doesn’t tend to be a widely popular sport in the U.S., some misconceptions have arisen from outsiders who may not know much about the players and the game itself. It’s shown to be a highly physical sport, requiring mental sharpness and agility on your feet.
But many players have still faced stereotyping, such as the sport not being “manly,” which is a real statement one player in the club had been told.
Despite the setbacks, the passion that these players pour out onto the court is unwavering. Meeting up with each other after long school or work days to socialize and advance their badminton skills, shows the sport is so much more than just a workout.
New players are always welcomed to practice, held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Court Four in the NMSU James B. Delamater Activity Center.
Club updates and additional information are posted on the NMSU Badminton Facebook.
Read the Spanish translation of this article.
![Group leaders [left to right] Jacarthie Brazil, Kira Baum, Carter-Elise Keating, and Abby Watkins pose for a picture after a successful interview. April 21, 2026.](https://nmsuroundup.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/01_AnnaB_Health-Club_LowRes.jpg)
