Meet the Badminton Coach
by Chiu Yu-hsuan · Oct 2026
Since Taiwanese players have won Olympic gold in badminton, more and more students have picked up a racket. We asked Coach Hung, who has trained the team for ten years, what makes a good player.
Q: You were a player yourself, weren't you? A: Yes, I played for my county team in high school. I was never a star, though. I didn't have much talent, so I had to work twice as hard as the others. It taught me how to practice well, and now I can teach my players the same thing.
Q: Many students wonder how often they should practice. What do you think? A: Careful practice matters more than long hours. Two hours with a plan is better than five hours without one. In every practice, my players have one clear goal. Today, it might be their footwork. Tomorrow, it might be their at the net.
Q: Badminton is a fast game, isn't it? How do you stay in a big match? A: That's the hardest part! When you're behind, it's easy to get nervous. I tell my players to take a deep breath and forget the last point. The side of the game is just as important as the side.
Q: Your team lost in the city finals last spring, didn't it? A: It did, and the players cried on the bus home. But I asked them what they learned from it. That has made them hungry. They've been practicing harder than ever. Q: Any advice for beginners? A: Don't compare yourself with others. Ask yourself if you are better than last month. If the answer is yes, you're doing great. Real is slow, but it never stops if you keep going.