"Don't Give Up Too Early!" – Lena Rumpold on Her Journey to Becoming a Professional Athlete and Her Partnership with Bash Badminton

Bash Badminton supports Lena Rumpold on her journey to the top – but how did it all begin? The aspiring badminton player from Vorarlberg trains hard every day to reach her goals. In this interview, she tells us how she got into badminton, the challenges she had to overcome, and why she fully relies on Yonex equipment and Bash Badminton. She also shares insights into her daily routine as a professional athlete and offers valuable advice for young players.

Lena, how did your badminton journey begin?

I was about seven years old when my cousin took me to a badminton club training session in Götzis for the first time. I was instantly fascinated by the challenge of hitting the shuttlecock cleanly – which wasn’t that easy at the beginning. But the speed, technique, and dynamics of the sport immediately excited me. I quickly realized that badminton was my sport.

Was there a particular moment when you knew you wanted to become a professional athlete?

Yes! I clearly remember watching Serena Au Yeong train with the best players when I was still a child in club training. That was incredibly inspiring, and I thought to myself, "One day, I want to train like that too!" That motivated me to work even harder.

How did you make it into the squad?

My club coach told me about an opportunity to participate in a selection training session. I had nothing to lose and thought, "Why not? I'll just give it a try!" I loved it from the start, and shortly after, I was selected for the squad.

You train at the Vorarlberg Performance Center in Dornbirn. What does your daily routine as a professional athlete look like?

My day usually starts with a training session, either on the badminton court or in the gym. After that, I focus on recovery and analysis – video analysis is incredibly important to improve my game. In the afternoon, there’s another session where I specifically work on my badminton technique, footwork, and shot consistency. I also try to balance my studies alongside training.

How important is high-quality badminton equipment for you?

It’s crucial! Badminton is an extremely fast sport where precision, agility, and control make all the difference. The right equipment plays a massive role in that. I exclusively use Yonex badminton rackets because they provide the perfect mix of power and control. My current racket is the Yonex Nanoflare 700 Pro, which is particularly suited for offensive players like me. I also wear Yonex Power Cushion shoes, which give me optimal cushioning and stability – essential for quick directional changes.

What do you appreciate about working with Bash Badminton?

Bash is more than just a badminton shop to me. They truly understand what’s important in badminton and offer high-quality badminton products that perfectly meet the needs of players. Whether it’s badminton rackets, shoes, clothing, or grip tapes, I always get the best advice and support I need as an athlete. I also really appreciate that Bash is a specialist badminton retailer from Vorarlberg, fully dedicated to our sport.

What has been your greatest achievement so far?

One of my highlights was securing 3rd place in women’s doubles at the Slovak Open. After a long dry spell, that was a huge relief. Another highlight was finishing 9th at the European Championships, even though we had hoped for an even better result.

How do you deal with losses?

Losses are part of the sport. Of course, I’m disappointed right after a match, but I try to learn from every situation. I analyze what went wrong and immediately work on improving it in training. The key is to not get discouraged and keep pushing forward.

What are your next sporting goals?

I want to focus on international tournaments and compete in the European Championships, World Championships, and the European Games. Representing Austria at such events would be a huge honor.

What advice do you have for young players who want to pursue professional badminton?

Don’t give up too early! The journey isn’t always easy, but if you stay committed, you will be rewarded. Take advantage of every opportunity to improve – whether through badminton club training, regional training, or targeted technique training. And most importantly, enjoy the game!

Lena Rumpold proves that hard work, passion, and the right equipment make a difference. Bash Badminton is proud to support her on her journey and provide her with the best Yonex badminton equipment for training and competition.