UCLA Club Sports

The gym was nearly empty, apart from the remaining officers and a few stragglers. Most people left were busy picking up shuttles and pulling tape off the ground. In the dim stillness of the gym, four UCLA Badminton athletes took the stage on center court for the mixed doubles final, the last match of the entire tournament. It had been a tough road for both teams; both had fought in grueling matches throughout the day up to this point. On one side, we had Andrew Wang and Nicole Ju. Staring at them from across the tape were Samuel Li and Joline Siu.

 

There was no crowd cheering them on, no roaring applause from bystanders filling the air, just the steady rhythm of their game. Soon, however, all eyes were drawn to the court as the shuttle whipped back and forth between the two players. Neither team was giving an inch to the other. Both were hungry for the win. Every shot was a mix of speed and control, with smashes that echoed throughout the gym and drops so delicate they seemed to float over the net.

 

On November 2 - 3, 2024, UCLA Badminton hosted our annual Bruin Open tournament. This is one of our club's most significant events, garnering entries from badminton players nationwide. The tournament serves as a platform for the top athletes in the U.S., as well as for friendly sparring between people looking to have a good time. 

 

Our board worked tirelessly throughout the quarter and over the summer to promote the event and organize sponsorships with brands like Yonex. Bruin Open's success would not have been possible without the hard work of our board members, as well as a few compassionate team members who volunteered to help manage the tournament. In addition to the tournament running smoothly, we saw many smiles across players' faces as they played their matches and witnessed several memorable moments off the courts. Beyond providing an outlet to compete against one another, the Bruin Open tournament also sparked the joy of collaboration among players. 

 

"The UCLA Bruin Open Badminton Tournament brought people together, showing how sports can create connections and build a sense of community. It was a great reminder of how competition can challenge us while also giving us a break from the demands of college life." - Sohum Bhargava, Safety Officer.

 

This year, we had a total of 325 players ranging from our A-flight (the top flight) to our D-flight. We raised a total of over $20,000, which will go towards sponsoring club events and collegiate meets against other UCs such as UCSD, UCI, and Berkeley, and neighboring schools like USC and Cal Poly. We would like to extend a special thank you to Yonex, our sponsor for this tournament, for providing us with birds and prizes.

 

"I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to witness the badminton talent within the SoCal badminton community. Bruin Open provides a vital spark of competitiveness into the collegiate circuit while connecting players of all skill levels, and I was thrilled to participate in it. Thanks to everyone who helped run it!" - Andrew Wang, Captain

 

Compared to previous years, the Bruin Open was very successful this year. We were able to finish all of the matches in a limited time, and most of our matches were on schedule and proceeded smoothly. In the future, we plan to expand the tournament to even more players so they can get the opportunity to witness and participate in badminton at a higher level. In particular, we would like to improve on keeping the spreadsheets updated between the two gyms and pushing out merch and stickers earlier.

 

"Bruin Open was such an amazing event! I had so much fun competing against other players across different schools and being able to challenge myself to new levels. Some good things were that the staff was very attentive to player needs and created an overall welcoming environment" - Tam Vo, Social Chair. 

 

Honorable mention of our UCLA winners: Austin Mao, Joline Siu, Samuel Li, Kalea Sheung, Tam Vo, Nicole Ju, Andrew Wang, Charlotte Tse, Samuel Li