Had she not followed her father Aldo’s footsteps in to the badminton family three years ago, Yanika would have opted to play basketball. Though she finds the backhand stroke challenging to master, Yanika still has strong ambitions to win competitions abroad. Yanika’s career goal is to become an architect.

Name: Yanika Polidano

Age: 15

Club: Birkirkara Badminton Club

How long have you been playing badminton? Around 3 years

Describe badminton in three words: exhilarating, enjoyable, amusing

What do you feel when your opponent has cheated? Annoyed

Which badminton skill do you think is the most difficult to master? Backhand

What are you looking to achieve in badminton? To start winning in competitions abroad.

Who is your badminton idol? Carolina Marin

Favourite Movie? Les Miserables

Favourite Musician? Tyler Joseph

If it hadn’t been badminton, what other sport would it be? Basketball

Things that you like to do while you are not playing Badminton? Listen to music, draw

Favourite Food? Pasta

Favourite music/bands? Twenty One Pilots

Your goal, outside of badminton in life? To become an architect