TOPEKA, Kansas – Washburn University students are navigating a newly renovated recreation center without permanent badminton court lines, a change that has sparked concern among players, particularly international students for whom the sport is a significant part of their cultural and social lives.
The removal of the lines followed a flooring renovation completed over the winter break. While the university’s Student Recreation and Wellness Center (SRWC) previously featured clearly marked courts for both singles and doubles play, the lines were not re-applied after the project’s completion. According to university officials, the decision stemmed from low participation numbers in intramural badminton tournaments and a growing demand for pickleball courts.
“From 2022-2025 we only had a total of 30 people participate in our intramural badminton tournaments,” said Whitney Slater, director of the SRWC. “At the same time, pickleball has seen a significant rise in popularity. That said, we recognize the importance of offering opportunities for a wide variety of activities.”
The change has left some students frustrated. Josie Riddle, a junior graphic design major, expressed disappointment, stating, “They did have the court. They had two courts for badminton and then they don’t anymore. It might be because badminton is not as popular as pickleball but it has been around longer than pickleball. People have been playing badminton. It might not be as many people as they thought [but] they shouldn’t just get rid of the court.” Riddle also pointed out the impact on the intramural tournament, noting that without proper lines, the competition isn’t structured according to official rules.
For some students, the loss of the court lines represents more than just an inconvenience. Sumika Karmacharya, a freshman nursing major, explained that badminton is an accessible form of exercise. “If there is no court, we can’t spot the line and that’s hard for us to play badminton,” she said. Yashneil Shrestha, a freshman computer science major, highlighted the cultural significance of the sport for international students. “I think international students would definitely benefit from getting a badminton court as back in my home country, many of my friends and I especially used to play badminton,” Shrestha said. “I have grown up playing badminton and coming here in the first semester I was extremely happy to see a badminton court and good facilities provided. But in the second semester, after they redo the rec, they removed the badminton lines and now it’s very challenging to play badminton.”
Slater acknowledged the concerns and stated that the SRWC is attempting to address the issue without damaging the new flooring. “We’ve purchased temporary rubber line markers that can be laid out during badminton play,” she said. “The markers will be kept in a black drawstring bag available for checkout at the front desk. Inside the bag, you’ll also find photos showing how the lines should be set up on two different court configurations in the gym.”
The temporary solution offers a partial remedy, but students remain hopeful for the reinstatement of permanent court lines. The SRWC has not indicated whether permanent lines will be re-added in the future, leaving the situation unresolved as students continue to utilize the temporary markers and advocate for a more permanent solution.
