Jasmine Gao transferred from Taipei Wego Bilingual High School to DIS in school year 2020 to 2021. She joined the badminton team and instantly became friends with everyone. During her free time, Jasmine likes to talk to her friends, play badminton, pet her dog, and most importantly, watch anime.
What made you interested in badminton?
Since most sports such as basketball and volleyball require height, for a girl like me that is not tall, badminton is actually a sport that doesn’t demand height. I think it is essential for everyone to have at least one sport to play as a habit since regular exercise is essential for our health; therefore, I chose badminton as my habit. Badminton is also an exciting and challenging sport. Unlike other sports, it is more like an individual sport that doesn’t require many players. Badminton is not a hard sport; instead, it is easy to learn. The feeling of smashing and playing against powerful rivals makes me excited.
How was practice like starting with zero knowledge of the game to become the top 5 girls in Taipei?
I wasn’t super good at badminton when I first joined the team, it was just my hobby. But after practicing with friends and learning new technics, I became better at it and really enjoyed it. I think the most important thing is first to like the sport; one has to be willing to spend time on it and enjoy playing it. Friends also play an essential role in practicing; badminton requires at least two players to play against each other, so it is hard to practice alone. But at the same time, one improves very fast when playing against someone better than him or her. That is also one way of improving.
What motivated you to join the school team?
I joined the badminton team for three reasons. First, I like badminton and want to play it more often. The school provides courts for us to play and practice; I think it is a good opportunity to play and exercise. The second reason is that I want to play with my friends and improve myself. It is always delightful to play with friends and constantly improving my skills. Last, I want to go to the tournament and meet different kinds of people that love badminton. I want to play against people at different levels and test out how good I am and how much I still have to improve.
How did your life change with badminton?
While playing badminton, there are several things I realized. First, the foundation of everything is essential. To be good at anything or be an expert, a good foundation is required. It’s like building a tower; if there’s no good foundation, it is impossible to keep building stories—the same concept for badminton and everything in life—next, the importance of practicing. I won’t say practice makes perfect, but it is guaranteed that it is impossible to achieve the goal without practicing. To achieve the goal, you have to practice very hard and be persistent. Last, never give up. No matter how many points you are behind or how tired you are, you should always give your best as long as there is still a chance of winning.
Who is your favorite badminton idol and why do you look up to him/her?
Tai Tzu Ying is my favorite badminton idol. I like her attitude towards every game. She is always enjoying herself while playing. Even when she’s playing against someone mighty, she is not thinking of winning but enjoying the game. She is also a mighty player who often turns the tables when everyone thinks it is impossible.
