Badminton Wizard : Ferdinand Rivera Is Used to His Sport Being Shuttled Aside

To the barbecue set, badminton is the form of recreation--a shade more strenuous than repose--that one engages in while waiting for the coals to get hot.

Indeed, badminton’s niche in the American sports firmament is somewhere between double-Dutch jump rope and tiddlywinks.

“I don’t think Americans are attracted to it because they think it’s a sissy sport,” said Robin Clair, a senior member of the badminton team at Pacifica High. “They don’t think it demands much. But they’re wrong, because if they take the time to come out and watch, they’ll change their minds.”

Earl Broderick, the team’s faculty adviser, agreed.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about this,” he said. “But it is truly an outstanding sport. It really is. There’s strategy, skill, agility. You have to be an athlete.”

Like Pacifica’s Ferdinand (Ding) Rivera, for example. At 5-3 and 120 pounds, Rivera, a senior from the Philippines, is the best prep badminton player in Southern California.

Could this slender 17-year-old boy be the whirlwind who has compiled a 32-1 record this season and is the odds-on favorite to win his third straight Southern Section individual championship in May? He and Clair recently won the Estancia tournament’s mixed-doubles title.

“Size isn’t that important in this sport,” said Garden Grove Coach Vicki Toutz, who also is a member of the U.S. national team. “That’s why the Asians have had such an impact. They are very proficient in racket sports and have grown up playing them. Quickness is everything.”

When Rivera takes the court, all doubts about his athleticism are instantly dispelled. He is quick, darting from side to side, zipping to and back from the net, getting to shuttlecocks, known as birds, that appear hopelessly out of reach. The spring in his legs is breathtaking.

“He’s quick, and you have to be because the birds can travel up to 100 m.p.h., but his greatest strength is the mental part of his game,” Pacifica Coach Sharon Luckey said. “He plays with such finesse, and his placement is excellent. He is able to calculate every shot and move his opponent all the way around the court. He doesn’t have to smash all that much because he has his opponents off balance.

“Of course, Ding’s speed is a definite advantage, and although he’s not tall, he can jump at least two feet off the ground to get up to the bird. He doesn’t miss many birds.”

Rivera credits his father, Ben, a talented player, for getting him started.

“When I was young, I would go with my dad and would watch him play doubles, and sometimes I would play, too,” Rivera said. “But the game was too quick. I just couldn’t get the rhythm.

“One time, though, it was just me and my dad, and he was running me around the court. Although it was hard work, it was fun, too. I loved running after the bird. That’s how I got quick, I think.”

Although he has dominated the sport for two years, Rivera is modest about his ability and is concerned about the playoffs.

“Pressure? No, not that much,” said Rivera, whose only loss was at the hands of Buena Park’s Mike Mallars earlier this season. “It’s more a fear of the unexpected. I want to win again and I think I can, but it’s going to be tough because there are always unexpected people that are out there waiting for me. If I make a mistake, they’ll be waiting. I have to be careful. I just have to remind myself to be patient and hit smart shots.

“When I lost to Mike I was sick, but I beat him at Estancia. However, Joey Mercado of Pasadena, who is also from my country, is very good. He is my friend and I told him I would help him, but not too much.”

Understandably, scholarships are few and far between for athletes who traditionally play before crowds that could fit comfortably in elevators. But junior Mireille Corcoran thinks people are missing an opportunity for excitement. Corcoran and Tracy Hudson and Thuy Nguyen of Garden Grove are three of the top girl singles players.

“All people have to do is watch to appreciate how difficult it is,” Corcoran said. “It’s fun to watch. Look at Ding. He’s so graceful and he glides so effortlessly. And he’s always in the right place. Everybody thinks it’s not a sport. Did you know this is the fastest racket sport in the world? Believe me, this is hard work. After I finish a match, I’m tired.”