Birdies from badminton rackets were flying Thursday at the Forker Building for the first ISU Summer Badminton Tournament. With 54 participants in the men’s advanced, men’s beginner and the women’s doubles divisions, it was a full house.

The tournament was organized by the ISU Badminton Club with cooperation from the Chinese Students and Scholars Friendship Association. The two clubs came together to have an impressive tournament.

“The Chinese Students and Scholars Friendship Association has a lot of our members in the badminton club,” said Xiaoxi Li, president of the Chinese Students Organization and graduate assistant in statistics. “I don’t play a lot, but the organization is very impressive for this tournament.”

“I am a badminton lover,” said Kun Song, president of the ISU Badminton Club and graduate student in textiles and clothing. “I have been playing for six or seven years now. I play once a week, usually when we practice on Fridays.”

After practicing once a week, one of the badminton club members has competed beyond the ISU campus.

“Last year I went to the Ray Scott Open in Omaha, Neb. to participate in the men’s badminton single’s tournament,” said Nee-Fong Siah, graduate student in electrical and computer engineering.

“I got third place in the Open, which had a very tense atmosphere. I enjoy playing badminton a lot, and it has become my favorite sport.”

The women’s doubles champions were happy after their victory.

“It was a tough tournament that we really enjoyed,” said Kavya Gaddam, sophomore in business. Her partner was Wenxia Wu, graduate student in curriculum and instruction. “We were close to losing a few times, but we always came back like champions.”

Other winners included Anumantha Kanthasamy, associate professor of biomedical sciences, and German Samolyuk, assistant scientist for the Ames Lab, in the men’s advanced doubles division, and Nicky Hiedajat, graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, and Lion Kosasih, senior in mathematics, in the men’s beginner division.