Badminton returning to SAIT

By Colton Pankiw
SAIT Trojans Student Writer

CALGARY, ALTA, (November 23, 2021) – Badminton is making a return to SAIT. 

More than 20 years removed from competing in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC), the SAIT Trojans are dusting off the racquets. Austin Liaw, who just began coaching at SAIT this month, is looking to build interest in the program. 

"It will take a bit of time to get things going depending on interest that is currently attending SAIT," Liaw said. "I am starting out a badminton club so it is less daunting or intimidating for someone to come forward. From there, I will seek the players that might be interested in doing more than just casual play. Hopefully, I can get a team together by the end of 2021 and January 2022 to start participating in exhibition games and the ACAC badminton events. Once the team gets going, we will see more interest as future students will consider SAIT for their education and also for badminton."

Despite its long absence from the SAIT gymnasium, badminton has garnered the Trojans its most ACAC medals with 44 gold, 17 silver and 26 bronze - the last of them coming in the 1998-99 season.

In May of 2017, former Trojans badminton brother-sister duo Keith and Karyn Kadonaga (pictured) were named to the ACAC Hall of Fame due to their outstanding careers on the court, which included back-to-back ACAC and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) national mixed doubles national titles (1993-94, 1994-95).

Liaw is hoping that badminton can pick back up at not only SAIT, but other schools in the ACAC as well. Before 2000, there were 10 badminton teams in the ACAC, but that number has dropped all the way down to four. Helping to grow the game has Liaw eager to get going. 

"For many years, colleges with badminton teams had on-going talks with those institutions that used to have a badminton team to come back," explained Liaw. "When I heard about SAIT looking to kick start badminton and make a comeback to the ACAC, I got excited." 

Liaw himself has a lengthy resume in badminton. He began playing at the age of 8, and by 15, was training with the NAIT badminton team. He has a long list of championships from his playing days, including the ACAC Men's Doubles Gold in both 2000 and 2002, as well as the Honolulu Open Men's Singles and Doubles Gold in 2003.  

Not only did he play for a long time, but Liaw is also very familiar with coaching. He spent a decade coaching at NAIT before moving back to Calgary in 2012. With the long time off since coaching at the ACAC level, he is excited about the opportunity in front of him and is looking forward to seeing how much badminton interest there is at SAIT.  

Those interested in competing this season, can email Austin.Liaw@sait.ca.