Victoria Na competing at Li-Ning Open last month. Picture courtesy Badminton Victoria
At just 21 years of age, RMIT University student Victoria Na is living out her dream of representing Australia in badminton at the London Olympic Games.
Na is studying a Bachelor of Design (Games) and is one of three RMIT University students to be donning the green and gold this fortnight – others are Lizzy Patrick and Jared Tallent.
Since arriving at the Olympic village last Monday, the Glen Waverley resident has rubbed shoulders with some of the world’s best athletes and admitted it’s been hard to contain her excitement.
“We met Stephanie Rice in the lift and have seen other famous athletes like Leisel Jones, Libby Trickett and (Novak) Djokovic. The list just goes on and on,” she said.
But the excitement hasn’t stopped there for Australia’s No.1 female badminton player, who declared Friday night’s opening ceremony at Olympic Park Stadium the pinnacle so far.
“I couldn’t stop smiling and waving to the crowd,” Na said.
“It was a great feeling looking around the stadium and the crowd going wild, marching along with my fellow badminton teammates and the Australian team.”
“I didn’t miss a thing. I was just in awe,” she said.
Na’s Olympic selection comes after 11 years of training and hard work. Her father introduced her to badminton when she was nine years old, and continues to play an important role as her coach.
The last 12-months have been particularly busy for Na, who deferred her studies to concentrate on earning selection for the London Olympics.
Her decision was vindicated when, after competing in 15 overseas tournaments, she earned a top 80 ranking and a berth in her first Olympic Games.
Na began her London campaign with a commanding 21-12, 21-18 win over Slovakia’s Monika Fasungova at Wembley Arena yesterday.
She will now play Singapore’s Gu Juan in a game that will determine whether she progresses to the round of 16.
“I would be ecstatic to get to the quarterfinals,” she said.
“I hope to just do my very best for myself, my family, my friends and my country.”
- Na will play Singapore’s Gu Juan in a game starting at 6pm AEST.
- The match can be followed online.
