With training sessions of the boys’ badminton team in full swing ahead of BOSM, its Captain, Parth Khandelwal, spared time out of his regimen to describe his team’s experiences.

Parth explained that badminton events were sectioned into the men’s, women’s, and mixed categories. Each event began with league matches between teams divided into four groups, and the winners from each group advanced to the eliminator rounds leading to the grand finale. He stated that a team comprised six people in the men’s category, and a round included three singles and two doubles matches of 21 points each. He next said that training intensified for the team eighty days before BOSM, when they had morning sessions before classes. Evening sessions commenced at 5:30 PM and continued until 8. Parth said that the team continued to train after BOSM but hours were relaxed.

As team Captain, Parth strove to maintain discipline and love for the sport in his team. He said that his team periodically took time off to unwind, play football and extract treats from their Captain, by way of bonding. He stated that his team had won a silver medal at BOSM the previous year, and another at a contest at Thapar University. Parth identified the DU colleges of Hansraj and the Shri Ram College of Commerce as their historical rivals, and said that he looked forward to the considerable competition they brought with them. He listed some of the team’s challenges as unavailability of courts and a shortage of shuttlecocks that he said was a result of China’s decrease in their production.

Parth noted an overwhelming number of applicants at the badminton trials this year, which stretched to three days. Contenders were made to play against each other, and around twelve people were shortlisted using a threefold metric of strokes, fitness and stamina. The Captain confessed that hours were hard, even for him, but effective prioritizing had helped him balance academics with his passion of many years. He described a special joy that came from watching new recruits improve. According to him, this joy balanced out all the tribulations of a Captain. He ended with an appeal to the GBM to continue playing this sport, noting its ability to challenge both body and mind with high stakes and rewards.