Badminton has a rich history in many Asian countries but is still growing its base in Australia.
Twenty-year-old starlet Jennifer Tam is heading the sport's renaissance in Australia, as the country prepares to host the world championships for the first time.
"(It's) chess with a racquet... you've got your pieces, you've got like your strategy, now it's all just about thinking about wanting to win and just having fun," she said.
It's been eight years since Tam first took to the sport.
Could she imagine a life without badminton?
"Actually no. Back then, there was really nothing I was good at," she said.
Today she's ranked number two in Australia.
Rising badminton star Jennifer Tam. Source: SBS News
She picked up the sport from her father, who migrated from Hong Kong with Jennifer's mother in their 20s.
"I've now exposed myself to the sport that's so popular in my family heritage," Tam said.
"Just being able to go back to Hong Kong and realise that badminton is one of the most famous sports in Hong Kong compared to Australia."
Her next stop is the world championships, known as the Sudirman Cup, in her own backyard, when the Gold Coast will play host to the sport's pinnacle event.
"Really you've got to be the best of the best to play in it," Tam said. "But to have the opportunity to play for Australia in such a big tournament - it's really a huge honour."
Tam is one of 14 Australians going to the tournament later this month.
Jennifer Tam in training for the badminton world championships. Source: SBS News
Her coach, Andre Chen, says she's among a slew of young guns hoping for success on home soil.
"Aggressive, that's right. She's a fighter. She doesn't give up easily. And she really works hard to achieve her goal," he said.
The plan is to use the upcoming world championships as a springboard to next year's Commonwealth Games, and then on to the Olympics.
"And try and achieve my goal of breaking into the top 100 for world ranking," Tam said.
Currently ranked 120th, she doesn't have too far to go.
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