Speaking of badminton, here’s Maria Sharapova for Cole Haan.

A friend wondered what’s the deal about the shoes. We wondered about the outfit, too. And the racket on the left hand of the right-handed Russian. Well, I guess it’s just for pose. They’re trying to sell the shoes (which she helped design, I gather), not really the sport. Not even her sport – tennis. It’s a good thing they didn’t put a bag on her, though.

After weeks, nay a couple of months, of not playing badminton, I returned to the courts last Saturday to join my friends on our usual Saturday play time. It seems everybody had been busy with their jobs that I realized I wasn’t the only one who had been absent in the games for a long time.

Well, I’ve been busy watching tennis, as this blog shows. Work also came in the middle. But now, I really need to go and get my game back. Especially because we’re playing on a tournament tonight! This is hoping I can still run and hit the shuttle, what with my heavy feet and heavier frame these days.

Looking for weight loss pills that work? Why not try playing badminton? Well I’ve said this a thousand times before, and it’s not as if I can claim to be the fittest person I know, but after spending my Saturday night at the badminton courts, I am once again rediscovering some  of the best reasons why badminton is such a crazy good sport. For recreation, it is a fun activity any group can enjoy. As a competitive sport and a serious hobby, I guess it brings a lot more. If you’re not into sports and couldn’t be bothered by this seemingly silly game of passing a shuttlecock over a net, I’d say you’re not really missing so much. But for those of us who know the joy of skipping around the court and making lucky, and sometimes beautiful, shots and returns, there’s no looking back. Badminton is a sport I can play until I can no longer bend my knees and back.

I haven’t talked about badminton for quite some time now because I’ve been relatively lazy to play since the start of this year. These past few weeks, though, I was able to join several queuing sessions (where you’ll show up at the court and have your name listed so you can play with random partners and random opponents). I’m starting to get addicted to the game again, and I do hope it will go on for some time. What better way to stay fit sans Slimquick Cleanse.

As if I haven’t said it enough, the thing I appreciate most about badminton is that I regularly see, and play with, people of all ages (10 up to 60 up). Last Wednesday, I was so amused, and a bit embarassed, with this particular matchup that sort of revealed how out of shape I am. I was partnered with a  lady who is about 50 years old; on the other  side of the net is a girl who is barely 15, partnered with another lady who is pushing 65. By the end of the game, I noticed that I was the one who is soaked in sweat and is having ragged breaths. All three looked mighty fine and ready to play the next set. More embarassing because I am an intermediate player, at the prime of life, who’s been playing for years. But I was very happy to see the older ones having the kind of stamina they have. My partner told me that she started training for badminton when her doctor recommended physical activity to counter body aches and hypertension.  I say she did very well.

I skipped my supposed overtime work, yet again, last Saturday. I didn’t regret it, though, because it turned out to be one of the best Saturdays ever. Well, at least in my badminton universe. 

See, in our home court – what we call our regular badminton place –  people there have formed a really tight group. In reality, in a sort of fragmented kind of way because it’s like a big family with several small cliques. But when there are special occassions, like birthdays and others, a lot of them are generous enough to share their joys with the entire court. Things like that usually happen on Saturday nights. Last Saturday was a blast! I arrived there around 6 pm and 1 hour into playing, dinner was announced. Lots of food for everyone, drinks, cake. and even alcohol (tequila and beer). Heck there was even a guy passing slices of apples around. The best part? There was a videoke machine for everyone to use. The court fee? Php80, play all you can. I’m sure those girls using badminton as a replacement for dietpills are not at all bothered that we had so much to eat.