State Tourney Starts For Badminton – A Sport On The Rise
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The spring high school state tournaments started this week with badminton – a sport that's got a growing urban base and one local topline player.
It is a sport in which every school seems to have a shot, and on Thursday the state singles and doubles competition began.
Girls badminton coach Don Bross, of St. Paul Johnson, says that when the school hosts open gym, up to 50 students will show up to play.
"It's a great sport, because guys and girls can compete against each other," he said.
As always, state tournaments bring out the best players. In the case of badminton, it's Gau Lee, of Highland Park.
Lee is the kind of player everyone stops to watch.
She says she took up badminton when she was a child.
"I've just played with my sister when I was small," she said, adding that she didn't except to come as far as she has.
Lee is unbeaten this season, and she intends to keep that title.
"I've set this goal since the beginning of the school year," she said.
