Pan American Games Champions in two editions and with more than 370 career wins, Michelle Li has won more than matches since she started playing badminton.
“The best thing that sport has given me is the countless lessons and experiences I would not have found if I didn’t play badminton. To be good in sport, especially badminton, you not only need the physical qualities, there is the mental component, discipline, how to interact with people, how to adapt to conditions, problem solve, and so much more. All the things I have learned is applicable to everything I will do in the future and I truly believe I am so lucky to have had sport teach me so much because I don’t think I would’ve been able to experience half of the things that I did if I didn’t play sport.”
She started playing badminton at age of 11 at local community center with her mom, and after falling in love with badminton, she decided to play full time and go for the Olympics Games but not only to win a personal title because she wants to change the sport in her country. “Currently, badminton is very underrated so I must work hard to first bring results home from the world stage and bring awareness to the sport.”
There will always be various problems to face in order to achieve our objectives. The Canadian number 1 badminton player is no stranger to it. “One of my major struggles is that I have to self fund me and my coach to compite in tournaments all around the world while we working with a very low budget and limited resources. Trying to worry about finances and being able to sustain a competitive condition while comparing my own situation with those from other nations who has their countries support has proven very difficult and taxing for me.
Different situations that we live but from which we learn and know that can help other people, that is why Michelle leaves us this message: “Sport changed my life and there has been so many instances where people have done the unimaginable so… why can’t you?”
Li, 33 of the BWF Ranking, continues her sports career participating in the most demanding World Tour tournaments and is preparing to face the Pan Am Individual Championships next April, the Uber Cup 2018 next May and is looking for the classification to Pan Am Games Lima 2019 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
Photo Credit: Badminton Photo
