In this feature we’ll be hearing from a Trini gem! Chequeda De Boulet is a 20 year old professional and very talented badminton player coming from Princes Town, Trinidad and Tobago. She has already represented her country in several international tournaments such as:
- CAREBACO Championships (2015-2019 editions)
- Suriname International 2017
- Pan American Championships 2017 & 2019
- CEBT Championships 2019
- World Malayalee Council Florida Province Badminton Championships 2021
- Junior & Senior Nationals (2014-2019)
The former St. Joseph Convent Sando student has already amassed some important accolades in her sporting journey thus far including:
- 2018 & 2019 CAREBACO Women’s Doubles Champion
- 2019 CEBT Women’s Singles Silver Medalist
- 2019 Junior Triple Crown Champion
- 2021 World Malayalee Council Florida Province Silver Medalist
- 2021 Clearone Florida 529 Badminton Championship Women’s Doubles Champion
Currently the impressive 20 year old is in Germany training with Badminton Bundesliga team, SV GutsMuths Jena and took the time to answer some of our questions.
What age did you realise your love for badminton?
I probably realised from the onset when I joined the school club and holding the racquet felt natural. I was almost 13 years old.
What motivates you the most to play this sport?
My biggest motivation is my faith in Jesus and knowing that everything I do is to honour Him and not for people’s expectations or approvals.
Who is your favourite badminton player and why?
Ratchanok Intanon from Thailand is my favourite badminton player as she was one of the first players I saw competing at the World Tour stage. I love that one can never count her out as she’s known for her big comebacks in matches as well as her effortless style of play. She’s often compared to Roger Federer in tennis because their technique and movement look the most natural. She’s also the youngest ever World Champion- the only player to win the title while still being a junior.
Who would you say is your biggest supporter?
My mom (Sharlene), dad (John) and sister (Liselle) are definitely my biggest supporters. They always keep me motivated and encouraged no matter the circumstances and they help me to remain focused on my daily targets so that it’s easier to reach my ultimate goals in the sport. They’ve been the majority portion of where I am today in badminton.
Give us one short-term and one long-term goal you’ve set for yourself.
One short term goal that I’ve set for this year is definitely to improve match performance and also compete in more international tournaments this year. As a result of the pandemic I haven’t done much competing due to no training in Trinidad. However, as I’ve been back on a regular schedule, my main tournament target is to compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham England. I hope to make a statement by performing at a very high level and getting some match wins under my belt for experience. My biggest long term goal would definitely be to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Only one athlete from T&T has been able to qualify for badminton at the Olympics since its inception in 1992, so I hope to also do the same and be in good position for medal contention.
What would you say is your biggest strength?
I would say that my biggest strength is that I hate to quit. Badminton is a sport where you definitely have to be resilient and have to constantly evolve your game as opponents see your plans getting old quickly. So I think that my competitiveness keep me on my toes to push myself and to think of new ways to improve- whether it’s physical, tactical, emotional or mental.
What would you say is your biggest weakness and what are you doing to improve on it?
My biggest weakness is that I am a perfectionist. I really like to have structure and a plan to help me to navigate and stay on course with everything however, most of the time things don’t go according to plan. At the moment, I’m working on only trying to control the ‘controllables’ and let go of the reigns on the ‘uncontrollables’ so that I’m better able to put my energy on what matters.
Who would you say is your biggest role model and why?
Many come to mind such as, Serena and Venus Williams, Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez. They have been my biggest role models regarding sport because they’ve all been so revolutionary in their own fields as they’ve shown grit and determination that’s unparalleled to their competitors. Outside of the sporting world, Lindsey Stirling and Tori Kelly have also been huge role models for me. They didn’t take people’s opinions as truth and continued to hone their craft to the point where new genres were created. None of these women took no for an answer.
How did the pandemic affect you?
At the start of the pandemic I was pretty disappointed as tournaments (that) I was preparing for got cancelled and I was no longer able to train on court. However, I got into a routine so that I remained disciplined and wouldn’t completely fall off the wagon. That extra time allowed me to work on my conditioning a lot, analyse tactics in matches online, do some rehab work for injuries and also decompress a little more. The first year of the pandemic turned out to be a good change of pace and perspective.
What does your daily routine look like?
Right now in Germany, my daily routine consists of training 2 to 3 times a day. It may be on court (with drills, match play or some speed/agility work) or in the gym working on injury prevention, building strength, explosiveness and overall physical condition. In between sessions I try my best to recover for the next session as well as study for my exams by watching some lectures or working on practice questions. If there are no league matches on weekends I can study a bit more or relax and watch a movie or sleep.
Do you enjoy any other sport other outside of badminton?
Besides badminton, I love watching tennis, gymnastics and F1.
What do you enjoy doing outside of badminton?
I enjoy hanging out with my friends, going to the movies, reading, cooking and travelling.
Dhalpurie or buss up shut?
Buss up shut of course.
What has been your most memorable moment in the sport?
Winning the Senior National title in Women’s Singles in 2018 sticks out the most for me now because that championship was the most surprising for me. I didn’t have any clear intentions of winning the tournament that week as I knew I was still a junior and had the least experience going into the final against 7 time National Champion Blake. This feels the most memorable because I had felt confident in my game plan, had no pressure to win and therefore was able to execute what I wanted to quite freely.
Pet Peeve?
People who don’t say please or speak in a condescending tone.
How would you describe yourself?
I consider myself to be a passionate person. Whatever I do, has to come from a place of passion. It’s what keeps me driven, diligent and ambitious. Yes, most people say that it’s discipline that gets things done, but I think that it’s passion which allows you to have fun and stay engaged while you do it.
Tell us about your struggles thus far in your journey.
The biggest struggle thus far has been a lack of finances. Everyday, my family and I work on getting sponsors to help with travel and training expenses, but 99% of the time is to no avail. Badminton is a very expensive sport and it is even more so when trying to qualify for tournaments such as the Olympics and World Championships. Lack of financial support simply means not going to a lot of international tournaments to improve my World Ranking which makes qualifying almost impossible.
What advice would you give to a young upcoming athlete?
Even if the journey seems difficult or without much support, still give it a go if it’s your passion. You never know what will happen if you continue to strive and put Jesus first. If you honestly believe, faith can move mountains and continue to keep that perspective.
You can follow Chequeda’s journey as she pushes to represent Trinidad & Tobago in the 2024 Olympic Games through her social media accounts:
- Instagram: @c_deboulet
- Facebook: Chequeda De Boulet
- Youtube: Queda De Boulet