𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐑 | 𝐈𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐜: 𝐓𝐀𝐔’𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐮𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐑 | 𝐈𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐜: 𝐓𝐀𝐔’𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐮𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

In badminton doubles, victory is born not from solo brilliance but from synchronicity, where two minds read the same play and two bodies move to the same rhythm. Every rally becomes a silent conversation, every smash a shared decision, and every point a testament to trust built over time. 

At Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), this seamless harmony takes shape through its women’s doubles badminton tandem, Ms. Neah V. Jose and Ms. Princess Marie C. Viuda, two student-athletes bound by discipline, driven by determination, and united by a single purpose. Together, they do not simply play the game; they move it.

Ms. Jose, a fourth-year student from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), taking up Bachelor of Science in Development Communication (BS DevComm), hails from Camiling, Tarlac. Her journey into badminton began during her elementary days. Over time, Ms. Jose developed a playing style that made her a vital force in doubles play. 

“It started when my cousins invited me to play in our backyard. Then it became a habit, I was spending every lunch break playing with my friends at school. One day, my teacher noticed me playing and told me I had potential in playing badminton. She invited me to represent our school in a competition, and to my surprise, I won my very first match. That victory changed everything for me and gave me the confidence to dream bigger,” she shared.

“That first win motivated me to take the sport seriously. I started training harder, joining school practices, and entering municipal tournaments to gain as much experience as possible. I wanted to represent not just my school, but my entire community. What began as a simple hobby slowly grew into a deep passion. Today, badminton is more than just a game to me. It is a part of who I am and continues to shape my life every day,” she added.

Beside her stands Ms. Viuda, a second-year student from the College of Engineering and Technology (CET), enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Geodetic Engineering program, and a native of Paniqui, Tarlac. Her introduction to badminton came just like Ms. Jose, a casual play that turned into passion. 

“I started playing badminton when I was still in elementary school after friends invited me to join casual games after class. At first, it was just for fun, but everything changed when our school’s badminton coach noticed me and told me that I had potential. That moment motivated me to take the sport seriously, and I eventually began joining school training and competitions. What started as a simple hobby slowly grew into a passion that continues to shape who I am today,” Ms. Viuda stated.

Their partnership began in the early days of their stint as representatives of TAU in college competitions. What began as a combination of luck and shared goals soon blossomed into a potent partnership that was founded on trust and effective communication. After many hours of training and a series of matches, Ms. Jose and Ms. Viuda learned that the key to winning in doubles badminton is to read each other’s moves, fill in the gaps for each other, and share the glory of victory.

Serving as their coach is Ms. Leslie Ann P. Rotoni, Instructor from the College of Education (CEd), whose impact goes beyond teaching technical skills. 

Through relentless encouragement and rigorous training, Ms. Rotoni has taught them the importance of patience, accountability, and toughness. It was under her tutelage that the two learned that badminton is more than just strength and speed, but also about tactics, trust, and belief.

As they continue to defend the green and gold of TAU, Ms. Jose and Ms. Viuda stand as a testament to the beauty of partnership in sport. In every synchronized step, every well-timed smash, and every hard-fought point, they remind the TAU community that when two athletes move with one purpose, excellence naturally follows.

#SmartTAU #GreenandGlobal #SCUAA #Badminton #Doubles #SDG3 #SDG4 #SDG17

Text | Carmina S. Melchor  [Information Unit]  

Photos | June Adel S. Guerrero [Information Unit] 

Graphics | Omar U. Barauntong [Information Unit]