What’s all the racquet?

The Portland State Badminton Club’s 2010 Spring Tournament will be held Saturday at the ASRC, and the event is open to all Portland State students, staff and alumni. Registration begins at 10 a.m., and play begins a half-hour later.

“I’ll say 70 percent of the participants will be Portland State students and alumni,” Club President Cherie Nguyen said. “We have several players coming from University of Oregon Badminton Club…and the general community. We currently have almost 40 players registered for the tournament.”

The tournament will include men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles matches.

“It is a best two-out-of-three games format, then we have a drop-flight system for consolation as well. However, consolation will only be held if time permits,” Nguyen said.

She believes that the club’s eight-member men’s team has a great chance this year.

“They have great potential and are all committed to be trained professionally,” she said. “We do have a great volunteer coach. The team trains every Sunday to help them prepare for the tournament, as well as to improve all the stamina, strengths and skills as required.”

However, the transition from the Stott Center to the ASRC this year has not been a smooth affair for the club.

“It was a little bit difficult at the beginning since we were having leader transition, then the budget allocated was not estimated to fit with our situation this year,” Nguyen said. “The former officers underestimated the number of club members as well as all the expenses associated with the tournament.”

Nguyen said the club hopes to host another tournament in the fall.

“Our officers are still in the learning process to get the club moving toward the directions we want, and it seems we are on the right track, and hopefully more big great things will be coming our way until the end of 2010–11 academic year.”

The Badminton Club practices Wednesdays 9–11 p.m., Fridays 7–9 p.m. and Sundays 3–6 p.m. The club’s drop-in hours are Tuesday and Friday from 4–7 p.m. For further information contact [email protected].